John Pell Archer-Shee MC

John Pell Archer-Shee was born in 1906, the son of Lieut-Col Sir Martin Archer-Shee DSO, MP for Finsbury. The name Pell came from his mother’s maiden name. John’s half-uncle, George Archer-Shee was aquitted of theft as a boy and became the basis of Terence Rattigan’s Winslow Boy. John was educated at the Oratory School, Edgbaston, Warwickshire. Lieutenant-Colonel John Archer-Shee assumed command of the 10th at the beginning of June 1942 in North Africa, at a time when a composite regiment was formed from the 10th Hussars, 9th lancers and the Queen’s Bays. They were part of the 7th Armoured Division engaged in the battle of Alam Halfa. Archer-Shee was wounded in the arm at the battle of El Alamein on 24 October. In November the wound was infected and he had to retire, handing over command to Major A D R Wingfield. This put him out of action for the rest of the war and he resumed command from 1946 to 1948. He was married twice; firstly to Mary Henrietta Stapleton-Bretherton in 1940, having a daughter, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1953. Secondly to Diana Nancy Boyd-Rochfort. They lived at the family home, Ashurst Lodge, Sunninghill, Berkshire. He died in 1980. The photo shows him as a lieutenant at Meerut in 1932.

Regimental Details | Commanding Officers