Colonel Peter Walton WKhM

Sadly, we must report on the death recently of Peter Walton. Peter spent a relatively short time in Oman working as a seconded GSO3 in HQ SAF from 1969 – 71 under the leadership of firstly Corran Purdon and then John Graham. During his tour in Oman he was recruited by Colin Maxwell as Assistant Secretary and Treasurer of the then nascent SAF Association. Following his return to the UK he swiftly became Secretary and Treasurer of the Association while working in the MOD and later at the Staff College in Sandhurst.

Peter was awarded the Sultan’s Commendation for his work during his tour in Oman and was awarded the Sultan’s Distinguished Service Medal during an audience with Sultan Qaboos bin Said in 1975 for his work with the Association and as a founder member of the Anglo Omani Society (now British Omani Society). An account of his visit to Oman in 1975 can be found in the Journal issue 16.

On retirement from the Army, amongst other activities he was heavily involved with both the Army Museums Ogilby Trust and the Corps of Drums Society. He had a great interest generally in all things military and was one of the two vice-presidents of the prestigious Victorian Military

Society. He was the author of the seminal two-volume work “Simkin's Soldiers” about the British

Army in 1890, and wrote “A Celebration of Empire”, which was a glossy centenary souvenir

of essays about Queen Victoria and her Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 1897.

Peter also had a strong and prominent interest in contemporary defence. He was a director of

Defence UK, the independent pressure group that campaigns for strong and well-resourced Armed

Forces and a greater commitment by the UK Government to the nation's defence industries and

non-military supporting services such as the Merchant Navy, Coastguard and Border Control.

He was one of the signatories of the famous letter signed by 50 senior military, politicians and

academics condemning the 2011 Strategic Defence and Security Review as a cost-saving report

driven by financial rather than military considerations, cutting more than 500 ships, aircraft and

armoured vehicles including tanks.

During his service in Oman he organised and ran a local english language radio station broadcasting in the Muscat area and he was also a talented artist. He was popular, amusing and quick-witted with a ready smile for everyone.

Funeral Arrangements

The funeral will take place at St John the Baptist Church, Small Hythe Road, Small Hythe, Tenterden TN30 7NG at 11.30am on Tuesday, 15 April; and afterwards at Benenden Village Hall, The Street, Benenden TN17 4DE.