It is with fondness and admiration that we remember Colonel Peter Walton WKhM, a founder and valued member of the British-Omani Society.
Colonel Walton’s association with Oman began in 1969, when he was seconded to the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) as a General Staff Officer (GSO3) at Headquarters SAF. Serving under the command of Brigadiers Corran Purdon and subsequently John Graham, he played a quiet but significant role during a period of considerable political and military transition in the Sultanate. His work in support of operations in Salalah and his broader contributions to the SAF earned him the Sultan’s Commendation during his tour.
In addition to his military duties, Colonel Walton was recruited by Colin Maxwell to serve as Assistant Secretary and Treasurer of the SAF Association. Upon his return to the United Kingdom, he assumed the role of Secretary and Treasurer of the Association, a position he held while serving in the Ministry of Defence and later at the Staff College, Sandhurst. His commitment to the Association and to fostering UK-Oman ties was recognised in 1975 when he was awarded the Sultan’s Distinguished Service Medal (WKhM).
Colonel Walton remained an active and engaged member of the British Omani Society for many years, maintaining a deep affection for Oman and its people. He returned to the Sultanate on several occasions, most recently in 2011, and continued to speak Arabic fluently well into his later years.His time in Oman was marked not only by professional distinction but also by personal enrichment. While stationed in Muscat, he established a local English-language radio station for the British community, pursued his interest in painting, and prepared for his Staff College examinations. It was also during this period that he met his future father-in-law, a senior finance official appointed by the Foreign Office, and later married his daughter Michelle in London in 1971. The wedding was graciously attended by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, a gesture that reflected the high regard in which Colonel Walton was held
Following his retirement from the Army, Colonel Walton remained deeply involved in military and historical affairs. He served as a director of Defence UK, was a vice-president of the Victorian Military Society, and authored several notable works, including the two-volume Simkin’s Soldiers and A Celebration of Empire. He was also a signatory to the 2011 open letter criticising the Strategic Defence and Security Review, reflecting his continued engagement with contemporary defence policy.
Colonel Walton will be remembered by the Society not only for his distinguished service and scholarship but also for his warmth, wit, and unwavering commitment to the values of friendship, service, and mutual respect that underpin the UK-Oman relationship.
We extend our sincere condolences to his family and honour his memory with gratitude.
All information in this article has been drawn from the SAF Association Journal, and Colonel Walton’s eulogy.