- SURNAME
de la Billiere
- FORENAME
Peter Edgar de la Cour
- UNIT
D Squadron + A Squadron + Commanding Officer
- RANK
Lieutenant + Captain + Captain (T/Major) + Lieutenant Colonel
- NUMBER
424859
- AWARD
Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross and bar, Mention in Despatches, CBE
- PLACE
Oman 1958 (MC) Malaya 1958 (MiD) Borneo 1964 (bar MC) Dhofar 1975 (DSO), 1982 (CBE)
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Durham Light Infantry
born 29.4.1934 Plymouth,Devon (as Peter Edgar Delacour de Labilliere)
son of Surgeon Lt Cdr Denis (died 1941) and Kitty Lawley de Labilliere
educated St Peter's School and Harrow School
King's Shropshire Light Infantry (2277920 Private)
Durham Light Infantry (2Lt)
22 SAS October 1956-59 (6/B Squadron + HQ (Ops) + 18/D Squadron)
1 Bn Durham Light Infantry 1959
21 SAS (Adjutant) 1960-62
22 SAS (CO/A Squadron) 1964-66
Staff College 1966
King's Shropshire Light Infantry 1967-71
22 SAS (CO) January 1972-74
Staff College 1974-79
Director of SAS and CO SAS Group 1978-83
award K.C.B. 1988
author "Looking For Trouble" 1994
CITATION:
Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire : The appointment of DSAS is unique. The incumbent is required to exercise an enormous breadth of responsibility requiring contact at a very high level within Whitehall and with Missions abroad. Much of the work is of a highly sensitive nature requiring a clear and comprehensive grasp of the political background. Always a highly demanding job it has never been more true than in the past two years.
During this time Brigadier Peter de la Billieres has been at the centre of critically important operational matters: the Iranian hostage operation; the Stanstead hi-jack incident; the coup in Gambia; special tasks elsewhere which cannot be specified in this citation, and finally the operations in the South Atlantic. In all these operations the employment of SAS has been highly successful for which Brigadier Peter de la Billiere deserves much of the credit. The quality and objectivity of his advice to senior persons from the Prime Minister downwards has been of the highest quality. At times of great pressure he has always acted in a cool and collected manner setting a fine example to all of those privileged to work with him. Simply his contribution to important affairs of State has been outstanding.
In carrying out his duties he has been required to travel far and wide at a punishing rate. He has never shirked any task and his unselfish and highly responsible attitude has placed great demands upon his leisure and health. His performance has been far beyond that normally expected of an officer of his rank and service and is deserving of the highest honour.
Place : London
Date of Action : December 1978 to July 1982
How Employed : Director SAS and Commander SAS Group
Military Cross : 1st December, 1958. Lieutenant de la Billiere personally led reconnaissance patrols deep into rebel territory with the aim of finding all possible routes up the mountain and the locations of enemy picquets. During one of these patrols he discovered a cave being used by a large party of rebels and he kept it under close observation for 36 hours. As a result of the information gained during this patrol, he was put in charge of two troops to carry out a raid on the cave. He placed his men in suitable fire positions and awaited first light, after 10 hours of moving through rebel held positions. When the rebels appeared he gave the signal to open fire and ten minutes later led his troop back up to the firm base held by the other troop without loss. Nine rebels were claimed killed although rebel sources stated that some 20 had died in this attack.
The leadership, aggressiveness and determination displayed by this officer in action against a tough enemy and in strange conditions was outstanding.
During this time Brigadier Peter de la Billieres has been at the centre of critically important operational matters: the Iranian hostage operation; the Stanstead hi-jack incident; the coup in Gambia; special tasks elsewhere which cannot be specified in this citation, and finally the operations in the South Atlantic. In all these operations the employment of SAS has been highly successful for which Brigadier Peter de la Billiere deserves much of the credit. The quality and objectivity of his advice to senior persons from the Prime Minister downwards has been of the highest quality. At times of great pressure he has always acted in a cool and collected manner setting a fine example to all of those privileged to work with him. Simply his contribution to important affairs of State has been outstanding.
In carrying out his duties he has been required to travel far and wide at a punishing rate. He has never shirked any task and his unselfish and highly responsible attitude has placed great demands upon his leisure and health. His performance has been far beyond that normally expected of an officer of his rank and service and is deserving of the highest honour.
Place : London
Date of Action : December 1978 to July 1982
How Employed : Director SAS and Commander SAS Group
Military Cross : 1st December, 1958. Lieutenant de la Billiere personally led reconnaissance patrols deep into rebel territory with the aim of finding all possible routes up the mountain and the locations of enemy picquets. During one of these patrols he discovered a cave being used by a large party of rebels and he kept it under close observation for 36 hours. As a result of the information gained during this patrol, he was put in charge of two troops to carry out a raid on the cave. He placed his men in suitable fire positions and awaited first light, after 10 hours of moving through rebel held positions. When the rebels appeared he gave the signal to open fire and ten minutes later led his troop back up to the firm base held by the other troop without loss. Nine rebels were claimed killed although rebel sources stated that some 20 had died in this attack.
The leadership, aggressiveness and determination displayed by this officer in action against a tough enemy and in strange conditions was outstanding.
WEB LINKS:
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_de_la_Billi%C3%A8reNATIONAL ARCHIVES:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7623565 (bar to MC)https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7631423 (DSO)
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7488113 (DSO)
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7634192 (CBE)
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7399694 (MC)
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