Martin Leslie Peters

A Private with the 7th Battalion, Martin died on 12 June 1940, and the age of 21.

Martin, whose middle name was Leslie, is named on the Blundeston War Memorial as L. Peters.

He was born at Blundeston in 1918, a son of George Martin and Phyllis Peters (nee Horn). His mother was a daughter of James and Edith Horn of The Street, Blundeston, and his father came from Rishton, Lancashire. Martin's father was serving in the Army when he was born and once his father was demobilized the family settled at 2 Plough Cottages, Blundeston. By 1921 his parents were living at Rishton and it seems that Martin lived with his grandparents at Blundeston. 

It is unclear whether Martin went to live at Rishton, or not, but he was living in Suffolk when he enlisted. 

Martin served with the 7th Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment. This battalion went to France in November 1939 as a pioneer battalion. In May 1940 the battalion joined the 51st (Highland) Division. By 10 June 1940 the Division was to be evacuated from France. Ideally this would have happened through Le Havre but because of the overwhelming German attack a decision was taken to evacuate through St. Valery-en-Caux and the Division formed a defensive perimeter. For an eye-witness account of what happened to the 7th Battalion see:

‘D’ Coy 7th Royal Norfolk | Account | 51st Highland Division Website (51hd.co.uk) 

The situation was untenable and the Germans forced a surrender on 12 June 1940. Only 31 men of the 7th Battalion escaped capture or death. 

Commonwealth War Graves records show that Martin was killed in action on 12 June 1940 buried, with seven other soldiers of the 7th Battalion who had also been killed that day, at Saint Riquier-es-Plains Temporary Burial Ground. In 1947 all of the men were exhumed and reburied at Le Havre.