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The Airmen's Stories - F/O G C B Peters

 

George Charles Boyce Peters was born in Hailsham, Sussex on 8th December 1912, the son of George Henry Boyce Peters (1881-1956) and Marion Boyce Peters (1878-1960).

He attended Malvern College from 1927 to 1930 and qualified as a solicitor in July 1936. He was articled to his father, GHB Peters.

During that time he was a Lieutenant in the 4th Battalion (Territorial) of the Royal Sussex Regiment.

He joined the RAF on a short service commission in January 1938.

Peters was posted to 3 FTS South Cerney on 9th April, completed his training and then joined the staff of 2 School of Technical Training at Cosford on 23rd December 1938. 

Peters was serving with No. 1 Coast Artillery Co-operation Unit at Gosport on 1st September 1939 as Adjutant. He was detached from there on 29th October for a 4-day course on Counter Bombardment.

Peters joined 79 Squadron at Acklington in early August 1940. On the 15th he claimed a Me110 destroyed, on the 30th shared a He111, on 1st September claimed a probable Do17, on 4th September he destroyed a Me110 and on the 7th probably damaged a Do17.

He failed to return from intercepting He111’s over the Irish Sea on 29th September. His Hurricane, P5177, crashed into the sea.

His body was washed ashore on 22nd October at Castlegrange, south of Newcastle, County Wicklow in Ireland.  

Peters was 27. He is buried in Rathnew Cemetery, County Wicklow, Ireland. The British authorities were not informed and he continued to be regarded as missing.

The truth was revealed when his parents, living in Aldwick, Bognor Regis, received a letter from a woman in County Wicklow, inviting them to stay with her when visiting their son's grave and offering to tend the grave. The Air Ministry later confirmed the death of Peters.

 

 

 

Image courtesy of Simon Hughes, County Wicklow.

 

 

Above: he is also commemorated on Pagham War Memorial, Sussex.

 

 

 


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