13 Facts About Richard Peirse

Richard Peirse became a midshipman in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve and was commissioned in 1912.

Richard Peirse was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his contribution to the aerial attack on Dunkirk on 23 January 1915.

Richard Peirse was further promoted in July 1916 to squadron commander.

Later that year, on 18 August 1915, Peirse married Mary Joyce Ledgard, younger daughter of Mr and Mrs Armitage Ledgard, of the Manor House, Thorner, Yorkshire.

Richard Peirse served as a pilot with the Royal Naval Air Service until 1 April 1918 when it became part of the Royal Air Force.

Richard Peirse went on to be deputy director of Operations and Intelligence at the Air Ministry in 1930 and, having been promoted to air commodore in 1933, was appointed Air Officer Commanding Palestine Transjordan Command during the Arab revolt in Palestine.

Richard Peirse presided over a large expansion in the bomber force.

In March 1943 Richard Peirse was appointed Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF India and in November 1943 he was made Allied Air Commander in Chief, South-East Asia.

Richard Peirse oversaw the building of his command from a small demoralised and poorly organised force with a collection of obsolescent aircraft into a powerful force with a three to one numerical superiority over the enemy.

Richard Peirse retired in May 1945 with the rank of air chief marshal but never received advancement to the Grand Cross level in the orders of knighthood which would normally have been forthcoming to an officer of his rank at the time.

The affair became known to Mountbatten in early 1944, and he passed the information to the Chief of the RAF, Sir Charles Portal, hoping that Richard Peirse would be recalled.

The affair was common knowledge by September 1944, and Richard Peirse was considered to be neglecting his duties.

Richard Peirse had his marriage dissolved in 1945, and the Auchinlecks divorced in December 1945.