An Old Warwickian
Lieutenant Colonel Peter Anthony Treadaway MBE ERD Royal Signals
The Man Peter Antony Treadaway was born on 5th March 1916 in King’s Norton, Birmingham. Son of Walter Templar Treadaway a Railway Shipping Clerk, from Melbourne, Australia and Winifred Colman nee Smith. Peter was educated at Warwick School between 1930 and 1934 and on leaving aged 18, began his career working for The Canadian Pacific Railway Company in their UK head office at 62-65 Trafalgar Square, London. By 1939 aged 23 Peter was living with his father at 20 Crescent Road, Leigh on Sea, Essex, and listed as a Railway Shipping Clerk. He maintained his connections with Warwick School and was a keen cricketer, winning the Old Warwickian Batting Challenge Cup the same year. During February 1940, five months after the outbreak of World War II Peter volunteered to join the Officer Cadet Training Unit and on 13th July 1941 was Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the General List, with service number 194078 and appointed as a Railway Traffic Officer. In November he joined the movements staff of HQ Northern Command and promoted to War Substantive Lieutenant on 1st November 1942 in the regular Army Emergency Commissions, Royal Engineers, Movements Control Section. He was promoted to Captain in March 1943, as a Staff Officer in charge of road movements in HQ Eastern Command, until September when he was appointed Staff Captain (Movements) at HQ Second Army during its formation. In June 1944 following the D-Day landings Peter crossed to Normandy with HQ Second Army, and was in charge of co-ordination of the road traffic layout within the entire British Bridgehead, consisting ultimately of over 115,000 vehicles in an area approximately 20 miles by 10. This involved the smooth movement and quick turnaround of traffic, bringing supplies from ships to dumps, drawing supplies from the dumps and concentration of troops for operations. In August he was promoted to Temporary Major, and during the advance through France, Holland, Belgium and Germany, was until the end of hostilities responsible for laying down general policy of road movement and ensuring smooth clearance from railheads of supplies and coordinating with general maintenance and operational traffic. In June 1945, following the disbandment of the Second Army, Peter was placed in charge of military road and air movement at HQ 30 Corps District, British Army on the Rhine. The same month he was appointed as a Member of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for ‘Services in North West Europe 1944-45’, his appointment appearing in the London Gazette dated 21st June 1945, and his citation reading:
“This officer has undertaken the detailed planning and execution of all Second Army road movement throughout the campaign. The problems he has had to face, particularly during the last three winter months, under very bad weather conditions, would have daunted many, but Major TREADAWAY by his untiring efforts has surmounted all obstacles and has been very largely responsible for the successful major regroupings of formations in the Second Army area.
He has at all times shown great powers of concentration in matters of detail and his energy has never flagged in spite of the exceptionally long hours and many nights without sleep. Throughout he has set the highest example to those with whom he has worked and shown great devotion to duty”
In April 1946 he was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant Colonel and appointed Deputy Controller in charge of all rail and road movement of civil personnel and freight within the Hannover Regional Area of the Control Commission of the Military Government in Germany. His responsibilities included arranging and chairing meetings of combined British and German transport officials, making detailed reports to HQ CCG and issuing working instructions and advising the Regional Commissioner on proposed changes in rail movement problems. He held this position until his demobilisation in July 1946, whereupon he was given a glowing reference by Brigadier T F J Collins CBE, of the Transport Division, who concluded by saying “He was sorry to lose him”. Peter was awarded the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 for his war time service. During the last quarter of 1946 Peter Married Margaret Alberta Elliot in Sheffield, and worked for the Unilever Subsiduary as a Transport Manager, working in West Africa, travelling there from Liverpool aboard the MV Apapa, part of the Elder Dempster Shipping Line during 1951. At this time his address in the UK was 20 Hambro Gardens, Leigh on Sea where he lived with Margaret. On 25th November 1954 Peter joined the Army Emergency Reserve of Officers, Movements Control Section and appointed from War Substantive Major to Major with seniority backdated to 24th September 1952 and on 27th February 1961 promoted to Lieutenant Colonel with seniority backdated to 11th November 1959. On 15th July 1965 he was transferred as a Lt Col into the Royal Corps of Transport and in the London Gazette of 16th May 1967 awarded the Emergency Reserve Decoration. On 1st April 1967 aged 61 he was transferred into the Regular Army Reserve of Officers. Peter maintained his association with Warwick School throughout his life and was a prominent member of the Old Warwickian Association, being its Chairman in 1963-65 and President in 1972. He presented the Peter Treadaway Salver to the school for the annual cricket competition which is still awarded to his day. He was also heavily involved in the formation and subsequent running of the Portcullis Club in 1955 at 3 Church Street, Warwick, to act as an HQ for the OWA. He helped raise funds for the internal decoration and maintained Chairmanship of the 200 club until his death. Following his retirement and by 1976 Peter and Margaret were living at 18 Brookside Avenue, Kenilworth, Warwickshire. Sadly Peter died suddenly on 14th November 1976 aged just 60 and his funeral was held at the Church of St Nicholas, Kenilworth on 18th November 1976. His names appears in the Country of Warwickshire Roll of Honour 1914-2005. Margaret lived a further 24 years and passed away in Devon during 2001.
“This officer has undertaken the detailed planning and execution of all Second Army road movement throughout the campaign. The problems he has had to face, particularly during the last three winter months, under very bad weather conditions, would have daunted many, but Major TREADAWAY by his untiring efforts has surmounted all obstacles and has been very largely responsible for the successful major regroupings of formations in the Second Army area.
He has at all times shown great powers of concentration in matters of detail and his energy has never flagged in spite of the exceptionally long hours and many nights without sleep. Throughout he has set the highest example to those with whom he has worked and shown great devotion to duty”
In April 1946 he was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant Colonel and appointed Deputy Controller in charge of all rail and road movement of civil personnel and freight within the Hannover Regional Area of the Control Commission of the Military Government in Germany. His responsibilities included arranging and chairing meetings of combined British and German transport officials, making detailed reports to HQ CCG and issuing working instructions and advising the Regional Commissioner on proposed changes in rail movement problems. He held this position until his demobilisation in July 1946, whereupon he was given a glowing reference by Brigadier T F J Collins CBE, of the Transport Division, who concluded by saying “He was sorry to lose him”. Peter was awarded the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 for his war time service. During the last quarter of 1946 Peter Married Margaret Alberta Elliot in Sheffield, and worked for the Unilever Subsiduary as a Transport Manager, working in West Africa, travelling there from Liverpool aboard the MV Apapa, part of the Elder Dempster Shipping Line during 1951. At this time his address in the UK was 20 Hambro Gardens, Leigh on Sea where he lived with Margaret. On 25th November 1954 Peter joined the Army Emergency Reserve of Officers, Movements Control Section and appointed from War Substantive Major to Major with seniority backdated to 24th September 1952 and on 27th February 1961 promoted to Lieutenant Colonel with seniority backdated to 11th November 1959. On 15th July 1965 he was transferred as a Lt Col into the Royal Corps of Transport and in the London Gazette of 16th May 1967 awarded the Emergency Reserve Decoration. On 1st April 1967 aged 61 he was transferred into the Regular Army Reserve of Officers. Peter maintained his association with Warwick School throughout his life and was a prominent member of the Old Warwickian Association, being its Chairman in 1963-65 and President in 1972. He presented the Peter Treadaway Salver to the school for the annual cricket competition which is still awarded to his day. He was also heavily involved in the formation and subsequent running of the Portcullis Club in 1955 at 3 Church Street, Warwick, to act as an HQ for the OWA. He helped raise funds for the internal decoration and maintained Chairmanship of the 200 club until his death. Following his retirement and by 1976 Peter and Margaret were living at 18 Brookside Avenue, Kenilworth, Warwickshire. Sadly Peter died suddenly on 14th November 1976 aged just 60 and his funeral was held at the Church of St Nicholas, Kenilworth on 18th November 1976. His names appears in the Country of Warwickshire Roll of Honour 1914-2005. Margaret lived a further 24 years and passed away in Devon during 2001.
The Story The medals awarded to Peter Anthony Treadaway were acquired from E-Bay on 5th April 2019, and of interest because of the Emergency Reserve Decoration, the paperwork with the group, including the MBE citation and the fact he was a ‘local’ man and had attended Warwick School. Contact with Warwick School archives, provided some additional useful detail and the usual Ancestry.UK and London Gazette trawl enabled a brief biography to be prepared. Despite all the local possibilities, no picture of Peter Treadaway has yet been forthcoming. Nevertheless an interesting story of one man’s war and his small yet hugely important part in it.
Extract from Warwick School’s Portcullis Club Magazine 1976-77
P.A.Treadaway M.B.E. (WS 1930-34) died suddenly on 14 November 1976 aged 60. For many years Peter had been a prominent member of and enthusiastic worker for the Old Warwickian Association. President OWA in 1972 and a past chairman, he was still chairman of the 200 Club, a post he had held since its inception. Peter always maintained an active participation in the Portcullis Club, of which he was the leading figure in its setting-up. His work for the school and OWA was outstanding among those of his generation.
P.A.Treadaway M.B.E. (WS 1930-34) died suddenly on 14 November 1976 aged 60. For many years Peter had been a prominent member of and enthusiastic worker for the Old Warwickian Association. President OWA in 1972 and a past chairman, he was still chairman of the 200 Club, a post he had held since its inception. Peter always maintained an active participation in the Portcullis Club, of which he was the leading figure in its setting-up. His work for the school and OWA was outstanding among those of his generation.
Medal Details:
- Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: Unnamed as awarded.
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- France and Germany Star : Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Emergency Reserve Decoration: 1967
This page last updated 19 Aug 19