Burton, Percival Ross-Frames “Purcy”.

Burton, Percival Ross-Frames “Purcy”, born 06-06-1917 in Good Hope, City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality, Western Cape, South Africa, the son of the Reverent Henry Burton (1866-1935) a South African cabinet minister, and Helen Marie, Rousseau Burton, born Kannemeyer 1878-1953).

Percival Burton and his brother William were educated at the Diocesan College in Rondebosch, Cape Town. Percival Ross-Frames Burton joined the South African Coast Garrison and Citizen Forces in 1935.

He later went to Britain, to Christ Church, Oxford to read Jurisprudence. In 1938 he was reserve cox for the Oxford crew in the University Boat Race.

Burton learned to fly with the University Air Squadron and was called up in October 1939. After completing his training at FTS Cranwell he arrived at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge on 22-06-1940 to convert to Hurricanes and joined 249 Squadron, under command of Squadron Leader John Grandy, at Church Fenton on 21st July.

On the morning of 27-09–1940 the squadron engaged a formation of Me110s of Lehrgeschwader 1 (LG 1) (Demonstration Wing 1) under command of Hauptmann Horst Liensberger.

The Hurricanes broke the Germans’ two defensive circles and the enemy aircraft went south at low level, heading for the Channel. Burton pursued one of the 110s for about forty miles, often at little more than treetop height, but the German pilot (actually Austrian), the Gruppe Kommandeur of V/LGI, Hauptmann Horst Liensberger, was unable to shake him off. Liensberger died 27-09-1940 (age 31) in this airbattle over Hailsham, Wealden District, East Sussex, England. Horst is buried at the Hailsham Cemetery Hailsham, Wealden District, East Sussex, Engeland, Sevtion,Grave 3688.

Deathg and burial ground of Burton, Percival Ross-Frames “Purcy”.

Just north of Hailsham, Burton’s guns stopped firing (presumably due to being out of ammunition) and the two aircraft skimmed over the rooftops.

The Hurricane, V6883, was above and behind the Me110. Burton suddenly banked and made what appeared to be an attack. Both machines lurched and an object spun away. The tail unit of the 110 dropped into a field, followed by the rest of the aircraft. The falling object was the wingtip of Burton’s Hurricane. His aircraft crashed into a huge oak tree on New Barn Farm, throwing its dead pilot clear and burning itself out in a field.

Liensberger and his crewman, Uffz. Albert Kopge, were buried in Hailsham Cemetery but were exhumed after the war and returned to Germany, Liensberger to Mutter near Innsbruck in Austria. Following his heroic action, Burton was recommended for the prestigious Victoria Cross but ultimately received a posthumous Mention in Dispatches.

Eye-witness reports indicate strongly that he deliberately rammed the Me110. A letter from Fighter Command to the Hailsham ARP Chief said that Burton was to be recommended for a posthumous gallantry award. This could only have been the VC but in fact he received a Mention in Despatches, the only other possible posthumous award.

Burton Percival Ross-Frames “Purcy”. age 23, is buried in St Andrew’s churchyard, Tangmere.

In 1980 a road on a housing estate near to the site of the crash site was named ‘Burton Walk’ in his memory.

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