On Wednesday 23 July 2025, the ODA Dr Paul Murray, addressed Lingua Franca (a society at Bishops founded by a former Staff Member Mr Michael Fisher, in 1969), on the topic of a Bishops War Hero. 

He explained that the gathering at The Mitre to speak about Percy Burton was a very difficult thing, as to talk about such topics was sacred.  Percy had given his life, in limine, on the threshold of his life. Unfortunately, due to technical reasons he had not been awarded the VC which from many circles both civil and military, this might have been done.  

Included in the presentation was William Westbrooke Burton the elder brother of Percy who also died fighting in the war (as a RAF pilot).  

Present at the meeting were (in the photograph, from Lto R): Alexander Tonkil (Gr 8: MH); Zeno Benolich (Gr 12: WH), Nicholas Henry (Gr 10: MH), Luke Carter (HoS - Gr 12: FH), Jack Buckham (Head of Lingua Franca - Gr 12: MH), Sam Nicholson (Gr 9: GH), Troy Haskel (Gr 11: MH), Harry Morgan (Gr 11: WH), David Lewis (Gr 12: GH), Mr Andy Wood Executive Director of the ODU - 1977 GH), Tom Moodie (Gr 9: FH), & Cruz Sun (Gr 9: FH).  Apologies were from Christopher Reid (Gr 10: WH) and Michael Mafunda (Gr 11: OH). 

Seated are the guests of Honour, the nephew of Percy and William - Dr Ian 'Sakkie' Learmonth (1962: FH - father of Sean Learmonth, 1997:OH) and Dr Mrs Genvieve Learmonth.  Mrs Italia Greig, the niece of Percy and William was unable to attend - grandmother of Nicholas Greig (2009: FH). 

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 heroicially pursuing an enemy plane on 27th September 1940, at the age of 23 over Sussex. 

Clearly he gave up his life Pro Fide et Patrie.

Youngest of the five sons of the 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 he 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." 

Percy's brother William Westbrooke Burton (also at Bishops), who had completed a year at the Architectural Association, London, joined an Operational Squadron before the end of December, and hoped to be a pilot of a huge bombers.  F/Lt. William Westbrooke Burton was subsequently killed in action when Wellington IC W5416 of 104 Squadron was lost over the North Sea during a raid to Kiel on 20th August 1941.

The following account was by William, of Percy's fateful moment flying his Hurricane over the county of Sussex, which 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." 

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

William Burton who was killed in action as a RAF pilot in 1941. (Photo courtesy of Mrs Italia Greig).

A powerful artists 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/)

A Commemorative event to honour Percy at Hailsham in Sussex will take place on 11 and 12 September 2025 when the Lord Lieutenant will be attending in his full dress uniform. The Dean of Christchurch College has been invited. Sean Learmonth hopes to attend the ceremony.  Councillor Murphy has offered to take him on a tour to see Christchurch College where his great-uncle studied; the RAF memorial at Runnymede where Willam Burton’s name is on one of the panels and Tangmere military graves where Percy lies buried.

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