World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, he served as a Captain in the British Royal Navy and had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy in both World Wars. As a Lieutenant in World War 1, he was awarded the British Distinguished Service Order for his actions at the Battle of the Dogger Bank in the North Sea. In November 1942, as a Captain, he took charge of the most dangerous mission in the Allied invasion of North Africa. The attack was by a mostly American force in two former U.S. Coast Guard cutters to secure Oran Harbor at the French colony of Algeria. On November 8, 1942, landing on the beaches west and east of Oran by American troops met resistance from French defenders with a full force of shore batteries and warships moored in the harbor. Captain Peters with his ship the HMS Walney along with HMS Hartland broke through chains and barges and proceeded towards taking over French warships and port facilities with commandos. Despite suffering 90% casualties and facing point blank fire from all directions, he was able to direct his ship for a mile and a half through the narrow harbor. At great personal risk, he assisted with the landing lines and continued even though he was wounded until he was taken prisoner along with fellow comrades. Two days later he was freed by American troops who had captured the city. A few days later, he died when the Sunderland flying boat transporting him from Gibraltar back to England encountered fierce headwinds and heavy fog, that resulted in the plane crashing into Plymouth Sound. For his part in the action at Oran, Algeria Frederic Peters was posthumously awarded both the Victoria Cross and the U.S. Distinguished Service Cross, the highest honor bestowed on foreigners by America.