Ronald Peters
Date of birth: 2.12.1919
Date of death: 4.5.1942
Area: Crofton
Regiment: Royal Air Force, 1 (S.A.A.F.) Squadron
Family information: Son of Edmund and Beatrice Peters of Crofton
Rank: Corporal
Service number: 539546
Born on the 2nd December 1919 Ronald was brought up in Crofton. His family lived in Claremont Crescent.
Ronald was a handsome young man, known to his family and friends as “Ronnie”. Ronald had already joined the Royal Air Force, as a regular, before the War started.
He was posted overseas and served in the Middle East, the Western Desert and in Egypt. He was wounded and sent to the British Military Hospital in Alexandria, where he died on 4th May 1942.
Ronald is buried at the Military Cemetery at Hadra, in Alexandria.
The family received a letter from the Officer of No 1 Squadron confirming his death and stating:
“Your son was severely injured in a bombing raid which took place near … in the early hours of the morning on Sunday the 1st February. The vehicle in which he was sleeping was set on fire by a stick of bombs. Being injured he could not move but was heroically rescued by one of our native personnel.
He was attended by our doctor and immediately evacuated to Hospital.
We had not heard of him since the accident and were under the impression that he was on the mend, when the news of his death in Hospital came as a shock to us.
He was with this Squadron for quite a long time, during which he carried out his duties in a cheerful manner and was well liked by all.
On behalf of the officers and other ranks of this Unit, I wish to convey to you our deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement”.
Ronald Peters
