Peter Roy Maxwell Drummond - Inter-war Years

Inter-war Years

Drummond continued to serve in the RAF following World War I, taking command of No. 111 Squadron on 20 February 1919 and receiving his permanent commission as a flight lieutenant that August. He was based in the Sudan in 1920-21, as part of Britain's system of "control without occupation", using aircraft instead of armies to put down local rebellions. As acting squadron leader, Drummond commanded "H" Unit, the entire complement of which consisted of two aircraft. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 22 July 1921 in recognition of his "excellent work" in the face of "adverse conditions", conducting a successful reconnaissance and bombing campaign against Garjak Nuer tribesmen.

After returning to Britain, Drummond attended RAF Staff College, Andover, graduating in 1923. Seconded to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1925, he served as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff and as Director of Operations and Intelligence, before returning to the UK in 1929. Drummond graduated from the Imperial Defence College, London, in December 1930, and was promoted wing commander on 1 July 1931. He commanded RAF Manston for a brief period in mid-1931, and later RAF Tangmere between November 1931 and June 1933. In September 1936 he was appointed Officer Commanding RAF Northolt, gaining promotion to group captain on 1 January 1937. He was posted to Cairo in September 1937 as Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) RAF Middle East and raised to air commodore on 1 July 1939.