Captain Clement Henry Peto

Clement Henry Peto was the youngest son of Mr and Mrs W H Peto of Dunkinty, Elgin. He was born on 8 July 1884 at 169 Cromwell Road, London, and educated at Harrow. He was commissioned after attending RMC Sandhurst, as a 2nd Lieutenant on 3 Feb 1904, lieutenant 22 Oct 1905, captain 17 Sep 1910. He served in India with the 10th Hussars and passed courses in musketry, telephony and Hindustani. He took the opportunity to travel, through Kashmir, Turkestan and on to Siberia, accompanied only by native guides. He also travelled in Africa and was a big-game hunter as well as a keen polo player.
In WW1 he commanded C Squadron near Ypres. On 17 Nov 1914 the Germans advanced and he ordered his men to hold their fire until the enemy were only 5 yards away. The Germans retreated and he and his men pursued them. Captain Peto was observed to kill six of the enemy before he was himself shot through the head. His brother, Lieutenant R Peto was also serving in the 10th Hussars and the two brothers were mentioned in a report by Private Sparks of the 14th Hussars who said that he was rescued by two officers who jumped out of a trench and hauled the wounded Sparks to safety. These two officers were the Peto brothers. Captain Clement Peto was also mentioned in the despatch of Sir John French on 14 Jan 1915 for gallant and distinguished service in the field.

Regimental Details | Soldiers