Description
Royal Naval Long Service & Good Conduct, EDVII, Sergeant W.E. Peters, No 4098, Portsmouth Division, Royal Marines Light Infantry.
Colour Sergeant William Arthur Ernest Peters, Royal Marines Light Infantry joined the Royal Marines aged 18 and saw a long and varied career lasting 21 years, where he rose from Private to Colour Sergeant with a flawless record.
He was however not done and had enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve when he was brought back into service on the outbreak of World War 1.
He would then join the Armed Boarding Steamer Ceaserea (The Isle of Man ship known as the Manx Maid) up in Aberdeen where he served on patrol duties pulling up vessels for examination and coming home to Cambridge to give everyone his “Accounts of the perils of mine sweeping” which were said to be “vivid and picturesque”.
After a medical discharge left him stuck back at home as a Civilian, he took on the role of Gate Porter to Trinity College at the University of Cambridge at the famous “Great Gate”.
Each College at the University of Cambridge has their own Gate, and a Gate Porter who stayed in the Lodge who ensures that the college is secure, William was a local man and was a distinguished Colour Sergeant with a spotless record.
He would work at perhaps the most famous of the gates, the “Great Gate” of Trinity College, the grand main entrance built during the era of King Henry VIII.
Officially impressed: “W.E. Peters, Sergt. No 4098. Ports. R.M.L.I.”
Medal awarded on 29th July 1903.
On old slightly frayed ribbon.
Walter Ernest Arthur Peters was born on 27th Feb 1870 in Trumpington, Cambridgeshire.
He first enlisted at Cambridge for the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 27th February 1888.
He was swiftly promoted to Corporal on 20th March 1990, followed by a promotion to Sergeant on 13th July 1893, after only 5 years of service.
Following further flawless service, he was promoted up to Colour Sergeant on 22nd May 1903.
After his discharge after 21 years on 27th February 1909, he enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve on 28th February 1909, and attended all his yearly drills.
He would be remobilised for active service once more joining his old unit the Portsmouth Division on 2nd August 1914.
From 17th November 1914 until 6th April 1915 he served on the Armed Boarding Steamer Caesarea.
After seeing active service he was medically discharged as unfit on 28th April 1915.
After his discharge he returned home to Trumpington and became a Porter at the University of Cambridge for a second career.
In 1921 he was “Gate Porter” to “Trinity College” on the census.
By 1939 he had retired noted as “College Porter Retired”.
He died in Trumpington, Cambridge on 12th June 1943.
The Cambridge Chronicle, 22nd January 1915 recalls his service in the war whilst on leave:
“One of the men who left this village on the declaration of war, Mr W.E. Peters, a Royal Marine, arrived home this week for a few days leave.
He travelled all the way from Aberdeen, being on a vessel using that port, doing patrol duty, pulling up all vessels for examination as to contraband.
He is in excellent health, and everyone was pleased to see him. His accounts of the perils of mine sweeping were vivid and picturesque.”
He is also on the Trumpington Roll of Honour.
