 The two battalions were subsequently merged and Peacock became 1st Battalion's RSM and went with them to Hong Kong.Illness necessitated Peacock's return to England in December 1956, and after a lengthy treatment he became RSM of HQ Northern Command at York on the Long Service List.Peacock's last duty with his Regiment was to take part with the representative party at the funeral of the Norwegian King Haakon in October 1957.