T H E C O V E N A N T E R
the help of the local farmers we only got probably also, that Peter Schnabel lied
to within 500 metres of the Bn operational about his age - thirty eight years in 1939.
area. Yet there was still something not quite
A special company (Number 77) of the
right about the course of the river. Defeated
Pioneer Corps was formed, to which many
and puzzled, we left the area wondering
expatriots of this category were posted.
when we had gone wrong in our researches.
After initial training at the Pioneer Corps
Returning the car to Guido, I discussed
Training centre at Ilfracombe, Schnabel was
the day with him. Because of the lack
of water flowing, the river during the
quickly promoted to Sergeant. It appears
summer was reduced to a swamp, which
that at that time he carried not simply the
in turn encouraged mosquitoes to breed.
normal issue kit bag, but nothing less than
Straightening the river produced a faster
an ostentatious leather case emblazoned
flow, thus denying them a breeding
in conspicuous white lettering with the
ground. This realignment accounted for
title ‘Major P.J. Schnabel’. He claimed pre-
my difficulty in relating ground to map.
War to have been a Major in the Heimwehr
What of future plans? If this expedition
(Austrian Army), but passed this off as a
was “Son of” the next will be “Grandson
matter of little moment. This contradiction
of”. The stores list will include better maps,
in terms for a man of a sergeant’s rank,
a Global Positioning Satellite and a Metal
conferred upon him an air of mystery
Detector. With these I am certain I can find
that seemed too obviously to be an
that dried up waterhole on the river’s edge
invitation for enquiry, concerning which
where my father was wounded.
he was delighted to give the explanation
Major C.G.M. Allardyce RE (Retd)
to his fellow Pioneers. His battledress was
Bridge of Allan, Scotland
no ordinary ill-fitting Army issue, but
28th October, 2002
obviously had been specially tailored, and
was worn with a panache appropriate to
‘MacSchnabel’ -
the pre-War lifestyle to which he laid claim
amongst the Austrian aristocracy.
an Austrian Cameronian
Peter Schnabel remained in the ranks for
As the Second World War progressed, the a relatively short time, being commissioned
personnel of infantry regiments, especially to the Pioneer Corps, followed by a
those of Scotland, began to comprise posting as a second lieutenant to 77
increasing numbers of men having no Company of that Corps. His patrician air
direct connection with the relevant local excluded self-confidence and cared little
recruitment area. for normal conventions - or indeed, the
This situation arose from several causes, affect which his conduct might have on
including casualties, the need for specialist others - tempered by a slightly tongue-in
replacements, and promotions to fill cheek reservation. Despite his apparently
vacancies for which there was no suitable superior manner, Schnabel was well liked.
available soldier in the particular unit. He made no attempt to conceal his former
Probably one of the strangest and most life in Austria, and became a popular and
interesting “recruits” (if that is the correct humourous storyteller about it. It was clear
term), fairly could be said to have come that such a linguistically talented group,
from outside these categories: one Peter despite being of the Pioneer Corps, could
Schnabel, who later became known as not long remain unused as interpreters
‘MacSchnabel’. How he achieved entry to and in the intelligence field. Many were
the Regimental ranks, remains something transferred to other arms of the services
of a mystery, about which more later. for that purpose. Peter Schnabel took a
Schnabel was an Austrian of Jewish different route.
extraction. He had fled to this country after In 1942, the 52nd (Lowland) Division,
the Anchluss with Germany, but how, and which included the 6th and 7th Battalions
under what circumstances remains unclear. of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles),
He had volunteered for military service in had been assigned to a new role to train
the British Army soon after the outbreak of as a Mountain Division in the Scottish
hostilities. As with many of his compatriots mountains. This involved the weeding
with Jewish blood, and others of a similar out of those physically unable to cope
position to that in which Schnabel found with the arduous training proposed. The
himself, the War Office posted him to a provision of expert skiing instructors and
non-combat unit presumably because of mountaineers was an urgent requirement.
the risk of severe ill treatment at the hands A natural source was to be found in ex-
of the Nazis in the event of capture. It is patriot men from the more mountainous
40
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