Establishment of Walter M. Peacock, auctioneer

Walter Molesworth Peacock was one of four sons of a yeoman farmer, Henry John Peacock, who, during the late nineteenth century, farmed at Grove Farm, Biddenham, which formed part of the Wingfield Estate. Henry John Peacock had previously farmed at Wilstead, on part of the Whitbread Estate.

In 1894, Walter attended a farm sale at Stanford in the parish of Southill for the estate of his late grandfather, John Smith Peacock, and for part of the sale he took the clerk's place. Mr R. B. Stafford was the auctioneer. In November 1894, Walter joined the staff of a long-established firm of local auctioneers and estate agents, Stafford and Rogers Ltd of 83 High Street, Bedford (a site now occupied by National Westminster Bank). He attended all the Saturday livestock auction sales for the next six years. On 29 September 1899, Walter attended the sale at Grove Farm, Biddenham, held for his father.

At this time Great Britain was at war with the Boers, and after attending Stafford and Rogers’ Christmas Fat Stock Sale in 1899, Walter became the first man to volunteer to serve in the 28th (Bedfordshire) Company, Imperial Yeomanry, popularly known as Compton's Horse. Compton's Horse was a cavalry unit raised from yeoman farmers and their sons, following an appeal for volunteers, by Major Lord Alwyne Compton, DSO, MP. Together with his brother, Charles Nassau Peacock (later to become a highly regarded dental surgeon in Bedford) Walter went to South Africa, taking his horse Charlie with him from the farm. At Bloemfontein his regiment joined Lord Roberts’ column, and he was made bodyguard to Lord Roberts and later to Lord Kitchener.

Returning to England in 1901, Walter, Charles and others, who had served in Compton's Horse, were granted Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Bedford in recognition of their service. Later, in 1904, the South African War Memorial was dedicated at an impressive ceremony in the forecourt of the Swan Hotel, Bedford, where it is still to be seen.

Demobilised in 1901, Walter Peacock returned home to ask for his job back with Stafford and Rogers Ltd, but was refused re-employment as he had not been asked to join the army. Faced with this unhappy news Walter is alleged to have said: ‘Well b***** you then – I will set up on my own!’