Peter obtained a commission within the Territorial Army [TA] in July 1939 and was mobilised on the outbreak of war. He went over to France as part of the BEF and was later evacuated from the beaches at Dunkirk in May 1940. A brief period of service in Northern Ireland then followed before he volunteered for a transfer to the British Indian Army in January 1941.

He was stationed in Kedah, a state in northwest Malaya bordering Thailand. His unit fought all through the retreat to Singapore before being captured by the Japanese in April 1942. His parents last received written communication from him in July 1943 but unbeknown to them Peter had died on Wednesday 11^th November 1942 of dysentery at the age of 25. After the Japanese surrender his body was never found and so he is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.

Elder son of Mr & Mrs R.T. Glenister of Hastings, Sussex; grand nephew of Sir John Bayley. Peter is one of two OWs commemorated on this memorial.

A copy of this story is available for download here.

See also the Commonwealth War Graves Commission permanent digital memorial, ‘Evermore: Stories of the fallen’ relating to:-
First Lieutenant Peter Reginald GLENISTER