Man trying to find relatives of late Scarborough man Bob Burton to give them his war letters

A man from Leicestershire is trying to find any relatives of Scarborough man Robert R Burton, known as Bob, to reunite them with some of his possessions.
Some of the photos of Bob Burton.Some of the photos of Bob Burton.
Some of the photos of Bob Burton.

Glenn Hinton came to have Mr Burton's things as both he and Mr Hinton's late Auntie wrote to the same pen friend, Peggy, in America during World War Two.

He explained: "During the war my Auntie wrote to this lady called Peggy, somehow she got the same person as Bob.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Fifteen years ago Peggy must have died and she left this big scrapbook full of the letters and photographs.

Bob Burton.Bob Burton.
Bob Burton.

"It was sent to my family and I ended up with it. I looked at it and it didn't cross my mind again for about ten years, I thought Bob Burton was a family member. Then when I looked again I realised he was from Scarborough and I had all of these things of his."

From reading the letters, Glenn has discovered Bob started out as a professional boxer, having around 33 fights, and may have gone by the name Boy Burton.

He then served in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps during World War Two, including at Tobruk in Libya where he fought alongside the Australian Army against the Germans.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

For this he was awarded the Tobruk Siege Medal, though it didn't arrive until 38 years later, which Glenn found out from a newspaper cutting among Bob's letters.

At one stage he lived on Oxliff in Barrowcliff.

Bob died aged 79 in 1995.

Glenn continued: "From the letters it doesn't seem like he had a wife or any children, though I can't be sure of that.

"I don't think he ever moved away from Scarborough, and I would love his things to end up with his relatives.

"I've got letters, a few photos and some stuff from during the war - military ribbons and badges he must have picked up on his travels.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"If you turn the papers over he's written on the back of them and it makes quite interesting reading."

Glenn has never been to Scarborough but hope he can visit to give Bob's things to his remaining family.

He added: "It might come to a complete dead end but if they don't get reunited with someone then eventually they might get thrown away which would be such a shame."

Anyone who knew Bob, or is a relative of his is asked to contact reporter Corinne Macdonald on [email protected] or 01723 860164.