Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
Peter was born May 9th 1918 the son of William Henry (a schoolmaster) and Annie (nee Macdonald). He had a twin brother, Malcolm.
In 1939 he was still living at home 25 Northside, Shildon. Peter worked as a piano tuner improver whilst his twin, Malcolm was an electrical engineering apprentice.
Paetr married his fiancée, Joyce Kathleen (nee Tolson) in 1943 at Darlington. He had enlisted into the services.
Following information is from Battle of Hill 170 – Wikipaedia
“The brigade landed without any naval or air bombardment in an attempt to surprise the Japanese. The units of the brigade were given different objectives. 1 Commando in the lead would secure Hill 170, a 700yd (640m) long, 300yd (270m) wide and 1,000ft (300m) high hill codenamed "Brighton", supported by 5 Commando. 42 Commando would be responsible for the security of the beachhead between two tidal creeks which were codenamed "Thames" and "Mersey". 44 Commando's objectives were two valleys codenamed "Milford" and "Pinner" to the east of Hill 170. "Milford" was secured on 22 January and "Pinner" the following day. All the objectives were taken with minimal Japanese resistance. Over the night of 23/24 January, the Japanese attacked "Pinner" and an artillery barrage unprecedented for the theatre of war landed on Hill 170 and would continue for the next four days.”
Peter was killed in action or died of wounds during operations at Kangaw.
He was buried at Taukkyan War Cemetery at Yangon (formerly Rangoon) where he was buried alongside 5576 of his comrades.
The inscription of his headstone reads :- Always remembered by his wife, Joyce, Mother and Father
Peter Kirby is remembered at Middridge on M51.01 and at Shildon on S122.02
