Peter Hellings

Sir Peter Hellings
Born 1916
Died 1990
Allegiance United Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Marines
Years of service 19351971
Rank General
Commands held 41 Commando
42 Commando
40 Commando
3 Commando Brigade
Royal Marines
Battles/wars World War II
Malayan Emergency
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Cross
Military Cross

General Sir Peter William Cradock Hellings KCB DSC MC (1916-1990) was a Royal Marines officer who became Commandant General Royal Marines.

Military career

Hellings joined the Royal Marines in 1935 and served in World War II as a Company Commander with 40 Commando[1] being awarded the Military Cross during fighting in Italy in 1943.[2] Shortly after the end of the War he commanded 41 Commando and 42 Commando.[1] He saw active service in Malaya in the early 1950s during the Malayan Emergency.[1] He was appointed Commanding Officer of 40 Commando in 1958, Commander of 3 Commando Brigade in 1959 and Commander of the Infantry Training Centre Royal Marines in 1960.[1] He went on to be Deputy Director of the Joint Warfare School in 1963, Chief of Staff to the Commandant General Royal Marines in 1964 and Commander Portsmouth Group Royal Marines in 1967.[1] His last appointment was as Commandant General Royal Marines in 1968 before retiring in 1971.[1]

In retirement he became Chairman of the Gas Consumers' Council for the South West[3] and lived at Milton Combe in Devon.[3]

References

Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Norman Tailyour
Commandant General Royal Marines
19681971
Succeeded by
Sir Ian Gourlay