Memorial For Bridlington Sapper to be Dedicated

A memorial will be dedicated in Bridlington on Saturday for Sapper Peter Joseph Shippey RE

Peter was born in Bridlington in 1947, he served for the Royal Engineers in Germany in the 1960's driving armed tanks and armoured vehicles.

On the 4th May 1967 Peter was returning from an exercise driving an armoured tracked troop carrier in convoy when the vehicle was damaged in an incident and caught fire.  Peter and the navigator died in the incident about five hours later from severe burns.

Peter is buried in the Sewerby Road Cemetary in Bridlington, and although his name is on the National Memorial Arboretum he does not appear on the main Bridlington war memorial which displays names of those killed in operations for which a medal was awarded.

Now after local fundraising efforts a memorial to Peter is to be dedicated in his home town.

Martin Barmby who lead the fund raising effort said

"The memorial will be dedicated at 1100hrs on Saturday 12th September. Standards, veterans and cadets are welcomed. We will of course abide by social distancing rules. For all those that have contributed to the fundraising, many, many thanks. This young man who left Bridlington to serve his country, died in service to that country is now remembered in his home town. Their name liveth for evermore."

Peter's sister Margaret will be at the dedication ceremony, she has these memories of Peter's life in Bridlington and enthusiasm for serving his country.

Peter was born in February 1947 in the 'Great Freeze'.  It was a low time in the families and the countries economy with severe snow falls and ice causing the roads and railways to be blocked.  Coal could not be delivered as the supplies could not get through to the town, as most houses were heated by one coal fire supplies were strictly rationed. Peter was born at home and a fire was lit in the little bedroom fireplace because of the special circumstances.

We were one family of six, mother father, two boys and two girls in a host of others all living in a community where doors were never locked, surplus crab,lobsters and fish sent out to neighbours (no fridges in those days).  We all learned to swim in the cold North Sea, swam in the boating lake when nobody was looking, roamed he beach and sand dunes and played in the country side or on the street only returning to have a meal before rushing out again.  So you see we had an idyllic childhood.

Peter was intelligent and always had a special interest in science and the army. He joined the Army Cadets as soon as he could and became so proficient at all the drills and skills that the leader visited my parents to tell them how well he was getting on.  He made a buggy for himself and 'case carried' for visitors to earn pocket money, sledged down 'Black Pudding Hill' with his friends and collected wood for bonfire night and guarded it before it was lit on the beach on the 5th November.

Peter joined the Junior Leaders at the age of 14 and was posted to Dover to finish his education and armed forces training. He attained the Duke of Edinburgh award at this time and was sailing high until he heard his father, Jack had died after a call out on the lifeboat he was crewing on and Peter was sent home on compassionate leave. His older brother Gordon had already been killed aged 19 in a works accident prior to this so Peter became the head of the family.

Peter finished his training and his mother Violet went down to his passing out parade in Dover.  After this he was posted to Germany and started his career in the Royal Engineers driving armed tanks and armoured vehicles.

His mother and sisters were informed that on the 4th May 1967 Peter was returning from an exercise driving an armoured tracked troop carrier in convoy when the vehicle was damaged in an incident and caught fire.  Peter and the navigator died in the incident about five hours later of severe burns.