Burmby | Peter Alfred
Biography
Peter Alfred Burmby was killed in action on 12 October, 1944. He was a Corporal in the 1st Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment (Service No. 5835362). He was initially buried in the Cemetery Th.J. Janssen, Overloon and later re-interred on 19 May 1947 in Grave III.C.5 in the Overloon War Graves Cemetery. His inscription reads “Loved and remembered always by your loving Mum, Dad, and brother Dennis.”
Early Life
Peter Alfred Burmby was the son of Alfred Burmby and Esther Potter who had married at Maldon Registry Office in Essex in August 1922. Alfred was born in Tolleshunt D’Arcy in Essex on 4 June 1898. Esther was born on 26 January 1905 in Tollesbury in Essex. Tolleshunt D’Arcy and Tollesbury are about 2 miles apart, to the east of Tiptree and Maldon. Alfred and Esther both came from large families of 10 or more children and both their fathers were agricultural labourers. Before his marriage Alfred was working as a Butcher’s Assistant. By 1921 he was the manager of a butcher’s shop in Tolleshunt D’Arcy owned by Walter Goody of Tollesbury and Frank South of Tolleshunt D’Arcy, both of whom were platelayers with the railway who left the running of the shop to Alfred.
Alfred and Esther Burmby had two children: Peter Alfred who was born on 14 October 1923 in the Maldon district of Essex and Dennis Frederick who was born on 15 February 1926 in Braintree.
By September 1939, the family were living at 56 Panfield Lane, Braintree, Essex. Alfred was still a Butcher’s Manager. Peter was a Butcher’s Shop Assistant, though he was shown as born in 1924 vs 1923.
Military Career
Peter seems to have initially enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment on 21 October 1940, serving for 1 year and 132 days. However, he re-enlisted on 2 March 1942 at Ipswich. At this point he enlisted in the Regular Army for a term of 7 years in the colours and 5 in the reserves, but his previous service counted towards the 7 years. He stated that he was born on 14 October 1922 in Maldon, but in fact he had been born a year later in 1923. He was therefore 17 when he had first enlisted. He gave his trade as a Butcher’s Roundsman. At his re-enlistment he was described as 5ft 6 ½ in tall, weighed 139 lbs and had a fresh complexion, green eyes and dark hair. He was declared fit for service. He gave his religion as Church of England. He gave father, A. E Burmby, of 56 Panfield Lane, Braintree as his next of kin.
On 19 September 1941, while in his earlier period of service, he was promoted to the rank of Paid Lance Corporal. However, oddly, he was recorded as a Private on his enlistment in March 1942. He was posted to the 70th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment. On 22 May 1942 he was promoted to the rank of Unpaid then Paid Corporal and then War Substantive Corporal on 20 August 1942.
On 29 October 1942 he was transferred to the Army Air Corps. He was posted to the Parachute Depot and school with effect from 29 October with the rank of Corporal. On 15 December 1942 he was posted to the 4th Parachute Battalion. However, his career took a turn for the worse on 7 January 1943 when he was put under close arrest. He was court martialled and found guilty on 13 January of refusing to make a parachute descent. He was sentenced to 84 days detention and reduced to the ranks. He was sent to Fort Darland Detention Barracks on 19 January 1943. He was released on 9 March 1943 having earned 28 days remission of his sentence.
On 10 March 1943 he was posted to No. 3 Infantry Training Centre of the Suffolk Regiment. He was then posted to the 8th Battalion on 6 April 1943 and the 1st Battalion on 5 May 1943. He was appointed to the rank of Acting Unpaid Lance Corporal on 25 June 1943 and this was converted to a paid position on 16 November 1943.
He embarked for North West Europe on 3 June 1944. He was appointed as Acting Unpaid Corporal on 7 June 1944.
On 6 June 1944, D-Day, the Battalion landed on Sword beach and was involved in attacking and taking the Hillman Fortress on D-Day itself. They continued to progress through France, including severe battles which cost many lives at Chateau de la Londe and at Tinchebray.
On 20 August they arrived at Chapelle-au-Moine where they spent two weeks. Here, they had some respite from the fighting and could relax and re-train for what was to come next. They were also able to receive reinforcements to replace the men killed and wounded. On 3 September they moved 130 miles eastwards over the Seine to Farceaux where they again remained out of the action for 13 days. While here, on 5 September, Peter was appointed War Substantive Corporal.
The Battalion’s advance into Belgium in mid September started with the challenge of crossing the Escaut Canal. They succeeded in the face of strong opposition, reaching Hamont on 20 September. They crossed into the Netherlands on 21 September to reach Weert. On 27 September they left Weert for De Rips. On 1 October they left De Rips to take up positions behind the village of Mook, to the south of Nijmegen.
The failure of Operation Market Garden had left the allies exposed in a narrow corridor through the Netherlands. The enemy still held Overloon, Venray and Venlo to the east. Initially the Americans attempted to clear this area but the strength of the enemy was underestimated and they made little progress. The British were now charged with taking on this task. The aim was to attack Overloon from the north and clear the enemy salient west of the River Maas in what was known as Operation Aintree.
On 8 October, the Battalion moved from Mook to Rijkevoort with the aim of attacking Overloon on 11 October having passed through St Anthonis and Oploo. However, the attack was delayed by heavy rain and very muddy conditions until noon on 12 October. The attack was to begin at 1200 hours.
The plan was for the 1st Suffolk Regiment to capture the western part of Overloon and a brick factory to the south. The East Yorkshires were to advance alongside the Suffolks towards a dog shaped wood to the east of Overloon.
The attack began with a general bombardment by Typhoons and artillery followed by a creeping artillery barrage which moved forward by 100yds every 5 minutes. The infantry followed this barrage with “A” company in the lead. They had to advance over half a mile of desolate land to reach Overloon and were immediately met with mortar fire. A sniper inside a shattered windmill succeeded in picking off Major Ellis who was “A” Company Commander, two platoon sergeants and most of the senior NCOs by identifying their rank from their badges. The attack nearly stalled at that point. However, Company Sergeant Major Leatherland took charge and led the Company to push on to clear the enemy from their machine gun positions. Communications were poor due to the weather, but a message got through to ask for air support so Typhoons emerged from the drizzle to pound the mill. Two thirds of “A” Company were killed or wounded around the windmill. It was in this area that Peter was killed.
Meanwhile, B Company had steadily advanced towards the centre of Overloon which the enemy was stubbornly defending. A Panther tank looked like it might cause a problem as the anti tank platoon was unable to move forward over waterlogged ground. However, Major Martin who was leading the Company personally used a PIAT to take out the tank,
“A” Company were then tasked with pressing on towards the brick factory which they succeeded in doing with yet more casualties. By 1730 hrs all objectives had been reached.
In Mark Forsdike’s book “Fighting Through to Hitler’s Germany” he quotes Private Claude Conybeare as follows: “Went into a terrific attack with 400 artillery guns in support; enemy strongpoint had to be taken, it was real hell let loose, and one expected to get injured at any minute. But we got through OK and captured Overloon”.
A total of one officer and 9 men of the 1st Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment were killed and a further 2 officers and 55 men were wounded.
Peter had served for 2 Years and 226 days plus a further 1 year and 132 days prior to March 1942. He spent 94 days in North West Europe. He was awarded medals as follows: 1939-45 Star, France & Germany Star and the War Medal 1939/45.
Aftermath
The Chelmsford Chronicle included two articles on Peter on 4 November 1944, one with a photo. One said:
“Peter Burmby – One of the Right Breed
Joined at 16: Within a few days of his 21st birthday, Col Peter Alfred Burmby of the Suffolk Regt. Has been killed in action in North West Europe. The elder son of Mr & Mrs Alfred Burmby, “Clairefontaine” Panfield Lane, Braintree, Peter joined the Army at the age of 16 ½ years. His brother Dennis is in New York, training to become a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm.”
The other said “On Active Service: Burmby – Cpl Peter Alfred Burmby of the Suffolk Regt, eldest son of Mr & Mrs Alfred Burmby, Clairefontaine” Panfield Lane, Braintree, killed while on active service in North West Europe, in the month of his 21st birthday, October. Answered the call of his country at the age of sixteen and a half. He will be remembered by all who knew him for his unselfishness and cheerful smile.”
It is likely that Peter really enlisted when he was 17 and 1 week old and died 2 days before he was 21.
Peter’s brother Dennis married Anne Wolstenhulme in Ealing, London in 1954. They had a son in 1956 in Amersham, Bucks.
Peter’ mother died on 14 August 1973 and his father on 1 May 1974, both in Braintree. They are commemorated in Braintree Cemetery.
Dennis Frederick Burmby died in 2003 in Kent.
