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Barry Burton, airman Joanna Burton November 2019 Barry Charles Burton was my great-great uncle. He was born in Bromley, Kent, on 28 May 1922, the younger of two children born to Thomas Charles Burton, a blacksmith, and Alice Annie (nee Thomas). Both Thomas and Alice were from Brighton and had moved to 14 North Street, Bromley, around 1911. Barry lived with his parents and older brother Stanley Thomas Frank at 14 North Street and by 1939 he was working as a clerk with a local firm of estate agents. My great grandfather Stanley had followed his father into blacksmithing and, at this time, lived at 11 Glebe Road with his new wife Julia, a five-minute walk away the family home. Left: Photo of Barry Burton's family grave at Bromley Hill Cemetery courtesy JS via the Find a Grave website: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24366383 |
Both brothers saw war service in World War II. Stanley served as a Fire Watcher, a civilian role attending to incendiary bombs that would have allowed him to continue working in the reserved occupation of blacksmithing, while Barry signed up for the Royal Airforce Volunteer Reserve. His service number indicates that he joined at either Uxbridge or Weston-super-Mare at some date after November 1940,
In 1940 Barry first joined the Local Defence Volunteers, which later became the Home Guard, before joining the Royal Air Force in the autumn of that year. Within two years he had attained the rank of Flight Sergeant, flying in Lancasters. His plane ditched in the North Sea sometime during the winter of 1942-43. Remarkably he got out the plane alive and was rescued. He was sent on leave before being transferred to the training squadron. One of my grandfather's earliest memories is playing aeroplanes with his uncle Barry during this time at home.
Stanley was killed by enemy action on 31 January 1941 at the forge behind his childhood home, leaving behind a widow and newborn son. Barry died two years later and was buried in Block G, Grave 274 of Bromley Hill Cemetery, where a memorial plaque commemorating him, his brother and their mother now lies.
In 1940 Barry first joined the Local Defence Volunteers, which later became the Home Guard, before joining the Royal Air Force in the autumn of that year. Within two years he had attained the rank of Flight Sergeant, flying in Lancasters. His plane ditched in the North Sea sometime during the winter of 1942-43. Remarkably he got out the plane alive and was rescued. He was sent on leave before being transferred to the training squadron. One of my grandfather's earliest memories is playing aeroplanes with his uncle Barry during this time at home.
Stanley was killed by enemy action on 31 January 1941 at the forge behind his childhood home, leaving behind a widow and newborn son. Barry died two years later and was buried in Block G, Grave 274 of Bromley Hill Cemetery, where a memorial plaque commemorating him, his brother and their mother now lies.