| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Dorset Scout Section | Scout Section Commander | 02 Mar 1941 | 05 Feb 1942 |
He had enlisted in The Queens Royal Regiment on 15 Jan 1940 and served there until joining an Officer Cadet training Unit on 8 Nov 1940. On gaining his commission he was posted to 2nd Battalion, The Wiltshire Regiment Depot.
He was appointed Scout Section Officer Auxiliary Units on 2 Mar 1941. It seems likely then did Introductory Course for Auxiliary Units in March 1941 (though his personnel file says March 42 which was after the end of his Auxiliary Units service)
He was sent to Blandford and attached to 3 Division for all purposes (i.e. pay, rations, accommodation, etc) 18-25 Mar 1941. He was attached to C Company ITC (Infantry Training Centre) Dorset Regt 25 Mar 1941 then posted to 15 ITC (Gloucester) 26 Aug 1941. He was finally sent to Coleshill House. GHQ Highworth 24 Aug 1941. The reason for all this movement is not clear, though the Dorset Scout sections are known to have had a base in Blandford and the Dorset’s ITC was in Dorchester, suggesting he was working from there for a period. From the fourth quarter of 1941 he is listed as specially employed in the Army List, which indicates service away from his Regiment. Between 8 Oct and 18 Nov 1941 he was at Lochailort for 3rd Commando Infantry Assault Course. The Auxiliary Units had links with the Commando training school there and a number of Scout Section personnel appear to have been sent on courses.
Lieutenant Beer left Auxiliary Units and returned to 4th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment on 5 Feb 1942 and was listed as selected for service in India the following month. His service there is uncertain but it is known that he became seriously unwell.
After an initial period of recovery in India, Lieutenant Beer spent 6 months in hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, recovering from amoebic dysentery, malaria and Tuberculosis . Eventually he would be medically discharged with 100% disability due to Pulmonary TB contracted during his Indian service.
Peter Beer died in 1962 from cancer, thought to have been brought on by the deprivations of his wartime service.
Personal communications by CART with Kate Albert, daughter of Peter Beer
http://forum.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/3148.page
http://www.chinditslongcloth1943.com/-roll-call-a-e.html