FLYING OFFICER PERCY BURTON

On the weekend of 13 September 2025, a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Flying Officer Percy Burton, highlighted in the ODU August 2025 Newsletter, was held at 12h30 at Hailsham, East Sussex. The event was organised by Southern Counties construction company as they are developing the area in which Percy was killed in action during the Battle of Britain on 27th September 1940 and wished to keep the memory of his heroic action alive. Dr John Wyatt, OD, officially represented the OD Union on this occasion and laid a wreath on behalf of the OD Community.  Dr Wyatt was wearing the OD Union Centenary tie from 1996.  Present were the great grand nephew and niece of Percy, Sean and Despina Learmonth, the children of Dr Sakkie Learmont (1962F).  

John Wyatt reports:

It was obvious that the town of Hailsham regarded Percy with great admiration as not only did the Town Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Chairman of the Wealden Distrct Council attend, but the local MP and East Sussex Lord Lieutenant, the King’s representative, were also present. In support we had Wealden Brass, an amateur Hailsham band and a guard of honour of local RAF Cadets (249 Squadron, Percy’s Squadron) with their Standard and the Royal British Legion.

It was particularly poignant by having some of Percy’s family present, Sean, Despina and Jamie Learmonth, and they were treated with great respect and obvious immediate affection. The Service was split into two parts after an initial introduction and prayer by the vicar of Hailsham Parish Church. Firstly, to one side of the site is a large oak tree into which Percy’s Hurricane crashed and has since been known as the Percy Burton Oak. Under the tree is a Cross at which a prayer of dedication, the Last Post, 2-minute silence and wreath laying was conducted. Secondly, in the middle of the park adjacent to the housing construction, a park bench with inscription and separate information plaque was unveiled by the Lord Lieutenant.

Despite the weather of sunshine and heavy showers, the Service went extremely smoothly and we didn’t get too wet as a marquee had been erected near the new bench and plaque. I have every confidence that the people of Hailsham occupying the new housing estate will continue to remember a brave pilot who died in the service of Great Britain and the Commonwealth. There are already several reminders with street names of Percy Burton, Ross Frame and Hurricane Way appearing.

The wording on the plaque is:

A previous article on Percy Burton on the ODU website, reported that due to technical reasons, Percy Burton had not been awarded the Victoria Cross for Valour, which from many circles both civil and military, this might have been done. 

Percy Burton had displayed the ultimate signs of valour.  

Percy Ross Frames Burton was a Pilot Officer in the RAF.  He attended Bishops from 1931 to March 1935, and was killed in action amidst circumstances of great gallantry.  He died when his Hurricane crashed after heroically pursuing an enemy plane on 27th September 1940, at the age of 23, over Sussex. 

Clearly he gave up his life Pro Fide et Patria.

Youngest of the eight children of The Hon. Henry Burton and Mrs. Helen Burton of Voorspoed farm, Retreat, Cape Town, Percy matriculated from Bishops in the 1st Class at the end of 1934, and was a member of the Ten Club (a society consisting of the top ten academics in the school).  After a short spell in the Post Matric Class, Percy went to Cape Town University, where he graduated at the end of 1937, with a Distinction in Roman Law and Jurisprudence for which he was awarded a medal.  He then went to Oxford and whilst there was a member of the Air Squadron for a year before war broke out - he was given a commission. Percy finished his training at the end of June and after ten days' leave joined a Fighter Squadron. It is good to know that, writing to his mother, he said: "I have never been as happy in all my life before." 

The following account (by William Burton, Percy's brother who also lost his life fighting in WWII) of Percy's fateful moment flying his Hurricane over the county of Sussex, was used by the Air Ministry as a communique: "Bishops must know almost as soon as his family with what conspicuous gallantry Percy sacrificed his life. On 27th September Percy's Fighter Squadron went on to engage huge Hun bomber formations attacking London. Percy selected a Hun bomber which he proceeded to chase south. Near the Sussex coast he engaged the bomber under the gaze of a Sussex town population who have been responsible in recounting these details. During the engagement it appears that Percy exhausted his ammunition. It also appeared afterwards that Percy had been severely wounded during the action in the air." 

"No sooner had his guns ceased firing than his Hurricane was seen to climb high above the fleeing Hun.  Indeed, he belongs to that particularly distinguished and gallant generation of Royal Air Force men who have already made and are making history. We are so immensely proud of him. Strangely enough, he lies now in a small Sussex churchyard very near the grave of Erskine Tanner."  

The following passage from the published account speaks volumes: "He selected a bomber for attack and it at once broke formation and fled; with Burton after it. The Squadron Commander states that he lost sight immediately of the bomber, but knew that it could be regarded as a casualty if Burton had engaged it." 

The ODU is extremely grateful that Dr Wyatt was present to represent the ODU and lay a wreath at the commemoration ceremony.

It is most heartening to know that Percy Ross Frames Burton, Bishops War Hero, is being honoured in this way. 

Percy Burton who was killed in action as a RAF pilot in 1940. (Photo courtesy of Mrs Italia Greig, neice of Percy).

A powerful artist's impression showing the ultimate sacrifice by Percy Burton of 249 Squadron as he rams the Stab-V LG1 Bf110C of Horst Liensberger/Albert Koepge. (Photo Credit: https://samilhistory.com/tag/percy-burton/)

 The plaque currently on display at the site at Halisham where F/O Percy Ross Frames Burton died.