A new book charts the military career of a Dorset Regiment soldier from Churchill’s secret Auxiliary Units to the liberation of Bergen-Belsen.
SAS Rogue: The Clandestine Life of Peter Weaver by Major Peter Weaver and Dr Will Ward tells the story of a boy born in the Himalayas, whose father died while serving as an officer in the 114th Indian Mahrattis Army. He was killed in action in Mesopotamia, Iraq.
Brought up by his widowed mother in Canford Cliffs, Peter struggled with dyslexia but was exceptional at sports, going on to captain England at hockey and play cricket for Hampshire.
After rigorous training, he was then told he was a month too old to enter Sandhurst, and in 1937 he enlisted in the Territorial Royal Engineers unit.
The outbreak of war saw him rapidly promoted, volunteering for the Auxiliary Units, the secret stay-behind force created in case of German invasion.
From Royal Tanks and Royal Engineers to Dorset Regiment
His daughter, Joanna Burri-Weaver, said: “My father’s story with the auxiliary units is compelling local history that readers will love.
“He first led the East Dorset Scout Section, covering that area specifically, though he later became the Intelligence Officer for the whole county of Dorset – ultimately overseeing operations across both East and West Dorset.
“His military path was extraordinary: from Royal Tanks and Royal Engineers to Dorset Regiment, training Home Guard guerrillas in sabotage and covert ops from 1941 to 1944.
“A Purbeck native, he knew the terrain intimately, selecting hidden bunker sites.
“Recruited by legendary SAS commander Paddy Mayne alongside Dorset auxiliaries from his unit who joined the SAS, in August 1943 he parachuted deep behind the enemy lines quite near Parthenay for Operation Bulbasket, where sabotage missions were carried out on rail lines and German barracks.
“Over 50 SAS were hiding out in a wood, when the wood was surrounded by the enemy.
“Sadly, many of the Dorset auxiliaries were murdered by Hitler’s private army, the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich, who put them in a prison for two days and then took them into a thick wood, shot them, and then buried them in three mass graves to hide their war crimes.
“After specialist ski training, Major Weaver fought in Germany on Operation Archway and was present for the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.”
After VE Day he landed in Norway, disarming the German garrison using his skiing skills. Post-war, he served in Crete, Sudan Defence Force, Eritrea, Egypt, and Greece.
After his retirement from the Army he moved to Swanage, where he enjoyed sailing. He died aged 79 in 1991.
SAS Rogue is £25 at local bookshops or online at Pen & Sword Books.
An audiobook is also available.
The Dorsetshire Regiment, an infantry regiment, was formed in 1881. It continued in British Army service until 1958, when it merged with The Devonshire Regiment to form The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment.
The regiment was formed in the Army reforms of 1881 by merging the 39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot and the 54th (West Norfolk) Regiment of Foot. These became the new unit’s 1st and 2nd Battalions respectively.
Until 1951, it was formally called the Dorsetshire Regiment, although usually known as “The Dorsets“.
In 2007, it was amalgamated with the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment, The Light Infantry and the Royal Green Jackets to form a new large regiment, The Rifles.
Discover more about The Dorsetshire Regiment by visiting The Keep Military Museum in Dorchester.
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