Lieutenant Colonel Richard Robert Newsham Pedder

This photo was taken when Richard Pedder was a young Highland Light Infantry Officer. He received his commission on the 27th August 1924 and served with the HLI until the outbreak of WW2. He became Commanding Officer, No. 11 (Scottish) Commando [which later became "C" Battalion of Layforce] and was killed in action during the action at Litani River, Syria. Winston Churchill later wrote:

" Their advance (referring to the Australians) was aided by a daring raid by No.11 Commando, which was landed from the sea behind the enemy lines. In this devoted stroke the Commando lost its leader Colonel Pedder, and all its other officers were either killed or wounded, together with nearly 120 other ranks, or a quarter of its total strength."

This photo was brought to my attention by Piper Jimmy Lawson who lives near to me. He was full of praise for the leadership of Lt. Colonel Pedder during their training on the Isle of Arran through to the Litani River battle. Jimmy had been given a copy of this photo by Henry More, son of Captain More also of No.11 Cdo. My thanks to Lt Colonel Pedder's daughter, Mrs Elisabeth Humphryes, for allowing the CVA to display it on our website. Posted by Pete R.

In Memory of 31724 Lieutenant Colonel Richard Robert Newsham PEDDER
Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)
Cdg. ("C" Bn. Layforce). No. 11 (Scottish), Commando
who died age 36 on 09 June 1941
Son of Brigadier General Ernest Newsham Pedder and Mary Aloisa Pedder; husband of Pamela Anne Pedder.
Remembered with honour at Sidon War Cemetery