Desmond Peter Middleton (known as Des to his family, Peter to his friends and Midd to Colonal Ian Wellsted), was born at the George IV on Infirmary Road in Sheffield on 1 January 1921.  His mother was Lily Middleton (nee Gough) and his father was Arthur Middleton  (family tradition has it that he was the only teetotal Landlord in Sheffield at the time). The Middleton family had been coal merchants in horse and cart days and originated from Wellingborough. He had an elder brother Arthur Gough, a sister called Veda Gwendoline and a sister called Marjorie Olga (known as Olga) who died from scarlet fever 28/2/17 aged 1 year 10 months and a brother called Nigel Gordon.

Peter's Mother, Veda, Nigel and I believe Olga, all had red hair.

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Des Peter, Veda and Nigel all went into the teaching profession and Veda went on to be Headmistress of Carbrook County Junior School, Attercliffe Common, Sheffield in 1954.

He had planned on a religious life, having been a choir boy and singing at events all over Sheffield, but following a period at De La Salle College, Sheffield and St Peter's College, Freshfield, Liverpool he started as an Articled Clerk with Peat Marwick Mitchell's Sheffield Coal Control office but when the war came he joined the Royal Artillery as a Gunner, Driver, Mechanic and was then selected to join A Squadron, the 1st S.A.S as a Sabotage Agent  where he served under Colonal Paddy Mayne.  Peter could recite a lot of poetry, especially "there is a green eyed yellow idol to the North of Kathmandu" (apparently by J Milton Hayes).  I later discovered on reading "Colonal Paddy" by Patrick Marrinan, published by Pretani Press that Colonal Paddy Mayne was very fond of Kipling.