Peter was born in July 1892 at Glasgow, Scotland.
Working as a stockman in the Gloucester district, Peter travelled to Sydney and enlisted at Liverpool. Joining the 5th Reinforcements, 13th Battalion on the 15th of January 1915, Peter was aged 22 years and 6 months.
The 13th Battalion AIF was raised from late September 1914, six weeks after the outbreak of the First World War. The battalion was recruited from New South Wales, along with the 14th, 15th, and 16th Battalions, which all formed the 4th Brigade, commanded by Colonel John Monash. The 4th Brigade embarked for overseas in late December. After a brief stop in Albany, Western Australia, it proceeded to Egypt, arriving in early February 1915. Australia already had an AIF division there, the 1st. When the 4th Brigade arrived in Egypt it became part of the New Zealand and Australian Division. The 4th Brigade landed at ANZAC Cove late in the afternoon of 25 April 1915. From May to August, the battalion was heavily involved in establishing and defending the ANZAC front line.
As part of the 5th Reinforcements, 13th Battalion, Peter embarked from Sydney aboard the ‘HMAT A55 Kyarra’ on the 14th of April 1915. After more training in Egypt, they arrived at Gallipoli on the 13th of July 1915. Peter joined the 13th Battalion who were undertaking defensive operations as the ANZACs attempted to establish themselves on the narrow beachhead that had been captured on the peninsular. Seizing Sari Bair (after which the battle was named) was a key objective of the August Offensive. On the 6th of August an attempt was made to break out of that position when the battalion took part in a costly and only partially successful action. The plan was for two assaulting columns. The left column, commanded by Major General Herbert Cox, heading for Hill 971 and neighboring Hill O, contained the Australian 4th Infantry Brigade (of which the 13th Battalion was part of and commanded by Brigadier General John Monash) and Cox’s 29th Indian Brigade. The left column became lost in a tangle of ravines and razor back ridges. Unable to find their way back in the dark, under enemy fire they failed to reach their objective. The 4th Brigade suffered 765 casualties one of whom was Peter, ‘Killed in Action’ on the 7th of August 1915.
Peter’s enlistment records show his next of kin was listed as Margaret Laurie of Kauthi Station, who was not a blood relation but where he was presumably working as a stockman before enlistment. His records further indicate correspondence between Margaret and the Army regarding his personal effects (listed as a brown envelope containing a Disc, a wallet, a notebook, and a photo). Margaret received his personal belongings and his war medals.
