1077:
573:
His experience of fighting in the area, knowledge of the people and possession of some fluency in Arabic overrode concerns about his age. In this role he was largely responsible for persuading
Schwarzkopf (who was initially sceptical) to allow the use of SAS and other special forces in significant
585:
By the end of his career de la Billière had risen to the rank of general, and became a special adviser to the
Secretary of State for Defence on Middle East military matters. In order to allow him to receive the pension benefits of full general he was given the newly created
505:
in 1979. For the next four years he commanded SAS Group with overall responsibility for military command. It was during this period that the
Special Air Service Regiment became publicly known as a consequence of their storming of the
1378:
574:
roles in the conflict. The
British army contingent expanded from 14,000 early in November 1990 to more than 45,000 through to completion of the engagement and cessation of hostilities in February 1991. In 1991, he was appointed
1333:
904:
1338:
1373:
1308:
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575:
248:
193:
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1363:
1393:
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1358:
1132:
1313:
519:
486:
After this tour, de la Billière re-attended Staff
College, and, this time, passed. After Staff College he was posted as G2 (intelligence) Special Forces at
896:
613:
De la Billière has written or co-authored 18 books, including an autobiography, a personal account of the Gulf War and a number of works about the SAS.
1069:
1383:
1343:
543:
490:. He then served a tour as second-in-command of 22 SAS, of which he was Commanding Officer from 1972 to 1974. For service in Oman, he was awarded the
241:
189:
1318:
487:
321:
Claude Denis
Delacour de la Billière and his wife, Frances Christine Wright ("Kitty") Lawley. On 22 May 1941 his father, who had been educated at
1353:
1233:
1199:
547:
129:
167:
1226:
384:
1172:
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1006:
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1206:
476:
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De la Billière then served from 1977 in a number of administrative posts assuming command of the
British Army Training Team in
1303:
591:
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874:
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502:
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218:
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570:
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After the SAS, de la Billière was appointed
Military Commissioner and Commander of British Forces in the
758:
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396:
286:
1293:
424:
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322:
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991:
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951:
931:
847:
827:
807:
787:
554:
535:
468:
447:, he returned to the Durham Light Infantry to run recruit training, before taking up the post of
290:
134:
986:
452:
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294:
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31:
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368:
223:
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In 1965, he married
Bridget Constance Muriel Goode. They have one son and two daughters.
17:
1146:
711:
443:
in 1959 for leading a troop in the assault on Jebel Akdar. After his initial tour with
440:
380:
326:
262:
201:
114:
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359:. A "Peter de la Billière" is mentioned as pupil evacuee of St Peter's Court sent to
356:
330:
175:
553:
Despite being due for retirement de la Billière was appointed on 6 October 1990 as
278:
89:
641:
International Who's Who of
Authors and Writers, Taylor & Francis, 2008, p. 178
348:
1043:
404:
155:
480:
266:
205:
731:
632:
The Directory of Directors, vol. 2, Thomas Skinner & Co., 1993, p. 376
655:"Collection: The Papers of Sir Peter de la Billière | ArchiveSearch"
587:
562:
448:
360:
310:
298:
179:
64:
471:
A Squadron 22 SAS. From 1964 to 1966, A Squadron 22 SAS was deployed to
459:(reserve) SAS regiment. In 1962, he was attached to the Federal Army in
494:(DSO) in 1976 for his actions in the battles at Musandam and Dhofar.
472:
498:
400:
337:
314:
68:
578:(KBE) and in August that year, de la Billière received Canada's
460:
432:
352:
1379:
British Army personnel of the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
419:
In 1956, de la Billière attended and passed Selection for the
336:, was sunk by German bombers in an attack south-west of
606:, and was made a Chief Commander of the United States'
475:
where he was second-in-command of the regiment for the
479:. For his actions during this period he was awarded a
399:. During his early career as an officer he served in
1334:
Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
576:
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
194:
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
185:
151:
123:
113:
103:
95:
83:
75:
48:
41:
1104:
1107:Storm Command: A Personal Account of the Gulf War
675:(8th ed.). Bath: Monkton Combe School. 1965.
1339:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Decoration
590:(honorarium) post of Middle East Advisor to the
1374:British Army personnel of the Malayan Emergency
955:(Supplement). 30 November 1987. p. 14774.
1309:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
542:on 1 December 1987. In 1987 he was appointed
8:
851:(Supplement). 26 January 1976. p. 1295.
520:Commander of the Order of the British Empire
510:in 1980. He was also responsible during the
1070:"Amazon.co.uk: Peter De La Billière: Books"
897:"SAS 'suicide mission' to wipe out Exocets"
862:
860:
858:
811:(Supplement). 21 August 1959. p. 5353.
1329:Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
1161:
1131:: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
1103:de la Billière, General Sir Peter (1992).
1018:
1016:
975:(Supplement). 30 December 1987. p. 2.
935:(Supplement). 31 December 1982. p. 5.
791:(Supplement). 28 April 1959. p. 2764.
565:), in effect the second-in-command of the
423:. During his first SAS tour, he served in
38:
1389:Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley
1324:King's Shropshire Light Infantry soldiers
546:(KCB). He was General Officer Commanding
544:Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
538:from 1985. He was succeeded by Brigadier
534:from 1984 and General Officer Commanding
237:Sir Peter Edgar de la Cour de la Billière
190:Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
1369:British Army personnel of the Korean War
1364:British military leaders of the Gulf War
1032:(Supplement). 7 June 1993. p. 9831.
831:(Supplement). 24 May 1966. p. 6106.
379:De la Billière originally enlisted as a
1394:Military personnel from Plymouth, Devon
1349:Chief Commanders of the Legion of Merit
995:(Supplement). 28 June 1991. p. 24.
706:
704:
702:
673:Monkton Combe School Register 1868-1964
625:
1359:British Army personnel of the Gulf War
1153:The Papers of Sir Peter de la Billière
1124:
700:
698:
696:
694:
692:
690:
688:
686:
684:
682:
649:
647:
224:Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit
1050:from the original on 2 September 2021
7:
1260:Commander British Forces Middle East
907:from the original on 16 January 2012
602:In 1993, he received Saudi Arabia's
501:before returning to the regiment as
127:British Forces Middle East (1990–91)
1314:Deputy lieutenants of Herefordshire
1147:Interview with Peter de la Billière
1007:"Governor General's Office, Canada"
411:with the regiment's 1st Battalion.
1080:from the original on 16 March 2022
877:from the original on 31 March 2019
712:"General Sir Peter de la Billière"
604:Order of King Abdulaziz, 2nd Class
219:Order of King Abdulaziz, 2nd Class
25:
309:Peter de la Billière was born in
277:(born 29 April 1934) is a former
1384:Recipients of the Military Cross
1344:People educated at Harrow School
1207:General Officer Commanding Wales
567:multinational military coalition
477:Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation
385:King's Shropshire Light Infantry
168:Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
343:De la Billière was educated at
1319:Durham Light Infantry officers
592:Secretary of State for Defence
518:. In 1982, he was appointed a
1:
1354:Special Air Service officers
415:Special Air Service Regiment
329:, was killed when his ship,
659:archivesearch.lib.cam.ac.uk
594:. He retired in June 1992.
492:Distinguished Service Order
198:Distinguished Service Order
1410:
1270:October 1990 – March 1991
29:
1272:
1263:In-theatre commander for
1258:
1250:
1240:
1231:
1223:
1213:
1204:
1196:
1186:
1177:
1169:
1164:
1157:Churchill Archives Centre
580:Meritorious Service Cross
455: – the London-based
293:of the British forces in
214:Meritorious Service Cross
903:. London. 8 March 2002.
526:Regular service commands
43:Sir Peter de la Billière
30:Not to be confused with
18:Sir Peter de la Billière
1234:GOC South East District
732:Wellesley House: Alumni
483:to his Military Cross.
437:mentioned in despatches
345:St Peter's Court School
210:Mentioned in despatches
140:Director Special Forces
571:Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.
488:Army Strategic Command
387:in 1952. He was later
1304:British Army generals
759:William Collins, Sons
569:headed by US General
557:of British Forces in
463:. In 1964, he failed
397:Durham Light Infantry
317:, the son of Surgeon
287:Iranian Embassy siege
96:Years of service
1244:Sir Richard Swinburn
1149:National Army Museum
439:and was awarded the
323:Monkton Combe School
319:Lieutenant Commander
27:British Army officer
737:9 July 2013 at the
548:South East District
421:Special Air Service
130:South East District
1029:The London Gazette
992:The London Gazette
972:The London Gazette
952:The London Gazette
932:The London Gazette
848:The London Gazette
828:The London Gazette
808:The London Gazette
788:The London Gazette
555:Commander-in-Chief
469:Officer Commanding
467:but was appointed
291:Commander-in-Chief
135:Headquarters Wales
1282:
1281:
1273:Succeeded by
1267:
1241:Succeeded by
1214:Succeeded by
1187:Succeeded by
1165:Military offices
429:Malayan Emergency
393:second lieutenant
231:
230:
160:Malayan Emergency
16:(Redirected from
1401:
1265:Operation Granby
1262:
1251:Preceded by
1227:Sir Michael Gray
1224:Preceded by
1217:Morgan Llewellyn
1211:1985–1987
1197:Preceded by
1170:Preceded by
1162:
1136:
1130:
1122:
1110:
1090:
1089:
1087:
1085:
1066:
1060:
1059:
1057:
1055:
1044:"London Gazette"
1040:
1034:
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997:
996:
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943:
937:
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923:
917:
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886:
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873:. 26 July 2016.
872:
864:
853:
852:
839:
833:
832:
819:
813:
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799:
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779:
773:
772:
751:Hart-Davis, Duff
747:
741:
729:
723:
722:
720:
718:
708:
677:
676:
669:
663:
662:
651:
642:
639:
633:
630:
559:Operation Granby
540:Morgan Llewellyn
532:Falkland Islands
516:Operation Mikado
457:Territorial Army
295:Operation Granby
281:officer who was
276:
271:
260:
253:
246:
172:Dhofar Rebellion
164:Jebel Akhdar War
85:
62:
58:
56:
39:
32:Peter Labilliere
21:
1409:
1408:
1404:
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1119:
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1099:
1097:Further reading
1094:
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1042:
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868:"Army Commands"
866:
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841:
840:
836:
821:
820:
816:
801:
800:
796:
781:
780:
776:
769:
755:Our Land at War
749:
748:
744:
739:Wayback Machine
730:
726:
716:
714:
710:
709:
680:
671:
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653:
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645:
640:
636:
631:
627:
622:
608:Legion of Merit
600:
528:
508:Iranian Embassy
417:
377:
375:Military career
369:Duff Hart-Davis
365:Our Land at War
307:
269:
258:
251:
244:
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227:
226:(United States)
222:
217:
212:
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145:22 SAS Regiment
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44:
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28:
23:
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1212:
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1200:Peter Chiswell
1198:
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1188:
1185:
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1171:
1167:
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1142:
1141:External links
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1138:
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1117:
1098:
1095:
1092:
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1061:
1035:
1012:
998:
978:
958:
938:
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888:
854:
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761:. p. 48.
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536:Wales District
527:
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441:Military Cross
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327:Bath, Somerset
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221:(Saudi Arabia)
202:Military Cross
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1254:Andrew Wilson
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525:
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514:for planning
513:
512:Falklands War
509:
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489:
484:
482:
478:
474:
470:
466:
465:Staff College
462:
458:
454:
450:
446:
442:
438:
435:where he was
434:
431:, as well as
430:
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357:Harrow School
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61:(age 90)
59:29 April 1934
51:
47:
40:
37:
33:
19:
1259:
1232:
1205:
1180:Director SAS
1178:
1106:
1082:. Retrieved
1073:
1064:
1052:. Retrieved
1038:
1027:
1001:
990:
981:
970:
961:
950:
941:
930:
921:
909:. Retrieved
900:
891:
879:. Retrieved
846:
837:
826:
817:
806:
797:
786:
777:
754:
745:
727:
715:. Retrieved
672:
667:
658:
637:
628:
615:
612:
601:
584:
552:
529:
503:Director SAS
496:
485:
418:
389:commissioned
378:
364:
342:
332:
308:
283:Director SAS
279:British Army
236:
232:
152:Battles/wars
90:British Army
36:
1294:1934 births
1024:"No. 53326"
987:"No. 52588"
967:"No. 51171"
947:"No. 51136"
927:"No. 49212"
911:16 December
843:"No. 46808"
823:"No. 43990"
803:"No. 41798"
783:"No. 41692"
550:from 1988.
427:during the
363:, Devon in
349:Broadstairs
305:Early years
285:during the
1288:Categories
1238:1988–1990
1190:John Foley
1184:1979–1983
1173:John Watts
1111:. London.
620:References
598:Later life
588:sinecurist
156:Korean War
76:Allegiance
55:1934-04-29
1127:cite book
1074:Amazon UK
395:into the
331:HMS
147:(1972–74)
142:(1979–83)
137:(1985–87)
132:(1988–90)
99:1952–1992
71:, England
1155:held at
1078:Archived
1048:Archived
905:Archived
875:Archived
753:(2015).
735:Archived
563:Gulf War
449:Adjutant
361:Crediton
311:Plymouth
299:Gulf War
216:(Canada)
180:Gulf War
124:Commands
84:Service/
65:Plymouth
881:26 July
522:(CBE).
383:in the
381:private
234:General
108:General
1115:
1054:9 July
765:
473:Borneo
453:21 SAS
445:22 SAS
425:Malaya
355:, and
289:, and
265:&
204:&
186:Awards
119:424859
86:branch
1084:4 May
871:(PDF)
717:4 May
561:(the
499:Sudan
409:Egypt
405:Korea
401:Japan
391:as a
347:, in
338:Crete
325:near
315:Devon
297:(the
272:
270:,
261:
259:,
254:
252:,
247:
245:,
69:Devon
1133:link
1113:ISBN
1086:2007
1056:2021
913:2011
883:2016
763:ISBN
719:2007
461:Aden
433:Oman
407:and
353:Kent
333:Fiji
104:Rank
49:Born
481:bar
451:of
367:by
301:).
267:Bar
256:DSO
249:KBE
242:KCB
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