No. 1 Demolition Squadron · 1942–1945A documentary history
Popski's Private Army
No. 1 Demolition Squadron, PPA
1940 – 1945

Popski’s Private Army timeline

A dated record of PPA and its forerunner, the Libyan Arab Force Commando, from 1940 to the unit’s disbandment in Austria in September 1945. Each entry carries its evidence status.

DatePlaceEventStatus
3–4 Aug 1940EgyptLibyan Arab Force raised from Senussi exilesVerified
4 Oct 1940CairoPeniakoff commissioned, General List, aged 42Verified
Apr–Nov 1941TobrukLibyan Arab Force battalions in the siege of TobrukVerified
Spring 1942EgyptLibyan Arab Force Commando formed under PeniakoffVerified
22 Apr – 18 May 1942Jebel AkhdarFirst commando journey behind the lines, carried by the LRDGVerified
28 May – 20 Aug 1942Jebel Akhdar, DernaSecond stay behind the lines; escape of five British prisonersVerified
17 Aug 1942Giovanni Berta50,000 gallons of petrol destroyedVerified
13/14 Sep 1942BarceLRDG raid; Peniakoff wounded, loses a fingerVerified
Oct 1942CairoNo. 1 Demolition Squadron raised: 23 all ranksVerified
Nov 1942Cairo to KufraAbout 700 miles in eleven daysNeeds verification
24 Nov 1942—Peniakoff’s Military Cross gazettedVerified
10 Dec 1942KufraPPA becomes operationalVerified
Late Dec 1942Zella, HonMoves west with the LRDGNeeds verification
Jan 1943Wadi ZemzemFirst action; accounts conflictDisputed
Jan 1943West of the Mareth LineVehicles hidden in the dunes destroyed from the airVerified
Feb 1943Tébessa, AlgeriaAttaches itself to British First ArmyVerified
Mar 1943Matmata HillsReconnaissance with the LRDG before the Mareth battleNeeds verification
Aug–Sep 1943BizertaAttached to 1st Airborne DivisionVerified
9 Sep 1943TarantoLands in ItalyVerified
10 Sep 1943At seaDvr Gaskell and Lt MacGillivray lost at seaVerified
Dec 1943LuceraEstablishment raised to 80 all ranksVerified
8–17 Jan 1944BisceglieLoaded for Anzio, then cancelledVerified
Feb–May 1944Monti del MateseMountain base and ski trainingVerified
14–15 Jun 1944Mouth of the TennaOperation AstrolabeVerified
21 Jun 1944River ChientiCpl Cameron killed; Maj Rickwood woundedVerified
1 Jul 1944CamerinoLiberated with the Ferri partisansVerified
13 Jul 1944FabrianoEnters after the partisans take the townVerified
Oct 1944RomagnaTakes on DUKWs; joins PorterforceVerified
1 Nov 1944River SavioDUKWs across the flooded SavioVerified
Nov 1944Ravenna sectorJoint plan with Boldrini’s 28th Garibaldi BrigadeVerified
9 Dec 1944North of RavennaPeniakoff loses his left hand; Caneri takes commandVerified
Apr 1945ItalyPeniakoff returns; Yunnie leavesVerified
21 Apr 1945Valli di ComacchioSeven days’ fighting in the waterwaysVerified
23 Apr 1945Comacchio areaLt McCallum and Spr MacDowall killedVerified
26 Apr 1945Ravenna to the PoJeeps sail north in six landing craftVerified
26 Apr 1945—Peniakoff’s DSO gazettedVerified
27 Apr 1945Po, Adige, BrentaThree rivers crossed in a dayVerified
c. 28 Apr 1945ChioggiaGerman garrison of 700 surrendersVerified
End Apr 1945VeniceJeeps driven round the Piazza San MarcoVerified
Early May 1945TarvisioNews that the war is overVerified
May 1945Carinthia, AustriaMeets Soviet troops; parade at RoseggNeeds verification
14 Sep 1945AustriaPPA disbandedVerified
Needs verification

Dates of death follow the war-grave records. Where the memorial, the memoir and the records disagree, the page for that period explains the difference. Place names are given in their wartime form; modern names are on the North Africa page.

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