Evelyn Chiappini Peebles was born on 17 May 1865, the son of Colonel Thomas Peebles. His mother was Elizabeth Maria Henrietta Chiappini from South Africa. He was educated at Cheltenham College, went to RMC Sandhurst and was commissioned into the 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment on 23 Aug 1884. He was in Burma 1891-92 with the Irrawaddy Column. Soon after his promotion to Captain on 1 Nov 1894 he was appointed Adjutant, Aug 1895 to Aug 1899.

In the South African War he was in the Relief of Kimberley and fought in the Orange Free State from Feb to May 1900, including Paardeberg, Poplar Grove and Karree Siding. He was wounded and mentioned in despatches, gazetted 10 Sep 1901. He was also awarded the DSO which was presented to him by King Edward VII on 29 Oct 1901. On 24 Jan 1901 he was appointed Adjutant of the 1st Volunteer Battalion for one year.

He was appointed Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion the Norfolk Regiment in 1913, having been promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 1 Sep 1912. He commanded them at the commencement of WW1 while they were stationed at Belgaum, India. The battalion embarked on 3 Nov 1914 to sail to the Persian Gulf. He was given a brevet of colonel on 3 June 1915 and put in command of the 19th Infantry Brigade, Indian Expeditionary Force from Jan 1916 to July 1917. He commanded the 45th Brigade in India from July 1917. He was decorated with the CB and CMG in 1917.

He was married in 1901 to Marion Turnbull, but she died in 1910. Colonel Peebles died in 1937. The photo shows Evelyn Peebles when he was a captain c1895. The watercolour of Lieutenant-Colonel Peebles was painted in India by Captain Walter Evelyn Cramer-Roberts who was serving in the 2nd Battalion in 1913, but died on 12 Mar 1819. He was the eldest son of Colonel Charles John Cramer-Roberts who commanded the battalion from 1883 to 1885.

1884 Lieutenant 1st Battalion23 Aug
1894 Captain 1 Nov
1895 Adjutant 1st Battalion 20 Aug
1901 Adjutant 1st Volunteer Battalion 24 Jan
1902 transferred to 2nd Battalion
1904 Major 17 Dec
1912 Lieutenant-Colonel
1915 Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 3 Jun
1916 Colonel 1 Sep