A SMALL Dartmoor community will honour a war hero on Sunday — 57 years after his death.
There is a war memorial commemorating two servicemen from the village of Sheepstor who were killed during the first world war. But until now there has been no memorial to Sub-Lieutenant Peter T E Nicolson RNVR, DSC, the village's only casualty from world war two.
A new plaque is to be dedicated during the remembrance day service this Sunday by Sheepstor rector, the Rev Richard Tebbs.
'I'm glad it's now being done because it completes an important part of our history,' he said.
Peter was killed in action in 1942, shortly before his 21st birthday.
Peter's brother, Lord Carnock, who helped the parish organise the memorial, said Peter had always been fond of the sea and filled some of his time between leaving school and taking his place at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1939 sailing across the North Sea.
'Upon the outbreak of war he joined the Royal Naval Reserve. His first ship was the Laurentic, an armed merchant cruiser of some size. It was sunk by the enemy in the Irish Channel,' said Lord Carnock.
Following his rescue, he was posted to a flotilla of motor torpedo boats, or MTBs, which made sallies from south coast ports against enemy shipping in the Channel.
Peter was posted to two shore bases, HMS Wasp and HMS Hornet — names evoking the kind of stinging attack the tiny MTBs were expected to launch against enemy shipping with their torpedoes.
'My brother was given command of MTB 38, he was the only officer and had a small crew,' said Lord Carnock. 'It was in the course of one of these missions that my brother was mortally wounded. As he died he gave instructions to the coxswain as to the course to be followed to return to Dover — an example of the presence of mind and dedication to duty which, while by no means unique, will provide an example and inspiration to many.'
The family no longer lives locally but Peter is buried in the churchyard.