Peter Haycraft Dibdin
born 26th Feb 1913 
Brought up at Avondale, 79 Grosvenor Ave Carshalton Surrey
died
Lance Bombardier PETER HAYCROFT DIBDIN

2088311, 408 Bty., 123 Lt. A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery
who died on 28 September 1943

Resources and Sources
Paintings
Drawings
Documents and notes about Journeys to Continent
Photos
Letters
Documents
Will of Aunt Lizz, sister of 
Documents relating to Public Trustee 1933 to 1941
Letters between him and Aunt Edith, his sister, Joan’s Guardian

Peter was born in 1913 the second son of Lionel and Cecily Dibdin. His older brother, Stanley who was born in 1910, died when Peter was four years old.  Brought up at Avondale in Wallingford, He was educated at School Epson College and joined his father’s property company when he was 18 years old. There is a document about Indentures to his Father on 1st June 1931 at 18 Mulgrave Rd Sutton for three years. He studied with British Tutorial Institute the President of which was coincidentally Sir Robert Dibdin JP. He took exams for The Chartered Surveyor’s Institution and exams for College of Estate Management.

Tragically in 1933 before he completely his indentures his Father and Mother died in a plane crash 
Before he reach the age of 21 and obviously in a very vulnerable situation.
On 2nd Oct 1933 he was Articled to Maurice Andrews 18 Mulgrave Rd Sutton for 2 years at a pupil Chartered Surveyor. On 2nd October 1935 he completed Articles.
One must assume that he was not settled in his late Fathers company and the suggestion is that he did not inherit a position as a partner which probably would have happened under Lionel.
In October 1935 he was looking for employment elsewhere once his “indentures” were finished.
From the age of 21 he took considerable interest in stocks and share and in July 1935 he bought 4 Houses in Sutton as investment properties. These and other investments were inherited by his sister Joan (Dibdin) Guise on his death.

He was sociable individual who enjoyed life. He was a member of following clubs: The £oyal Society of Dartsmen Sutton Rugby Football Club Sutton Football Club Sutton Hard Court Club Sutton Lawn Tennis Club Peter was a prolific photographer and did much of the processing himself. This would have been something passed on from his Grandfather, William Joseph Dibdin, who spent much time in the early days of photography striving to produce high quality results.

He was a close Friend of George David Muir born 5th Dec 1912 who lived at 81 Grosvenor Ave Carshalton Surrey  and seemed to have had a soft spot for Peters sister Joan. They were neighbours before Lionel and Cecily died in 1933. They both obtained International Driving Permits on 11 Aug 1937 from the Royal Automobile Club before doing a continental tour. - note the date - 2 years before the war. Records show that they both went on holiday to continent 1936 and 1937 and toured through Belgian France Germany Switzerland Italy in a Singer nine sports saloon. Between 1931 and 1943 Peter seemed to have possessed about 4 cars.

Record show that 1937 lived at East Court Woodmansterne Lane Banstead Surrey.

Amongst his work as a student in estate management are examples of his portrait drawing and painting. He like his father and ancestors was obviously talented in this field as well as music.

The outbreak of War meant that Peter was called up and during the war he worked as an Engineer, stationed at 

RE Camp Rowhook Horsham Sussex 20 Nov 1939 OCTU Shorecliffe Offham Lewes 9 July 41 Queen Bertha’s School Birchington Westgate on Sea Kent 3 Sept 43 Evans Barracks Blandford Dorset 14 Sept 43 Clacton on Sea 4 Aug 43 Records have been found that while in training he made detailed notes on the workings of the Otto cycle combustion engine and other useful vehicle mechanics. Coincidentally later in the war his sister took some similar notes!

Amongst the letters, which have not been studied in detail yet, is one significantly loving letter from Rosie, staying at Bridgend Glam. on 9th July 1941.

A note in Joan’s diary refers to her worry about how unhappy he seemed to have been at one point during the war.

He died in some form of tragic accident while on duty near Lymington on Sea.

Joan used to mention how she and her seven year older brother, never, in childhood, got on well however is noted with interest how Peter fought her corner against Aunt Edith with regard to Joan’s choice of career and training once she left school. Some of the letters from Edith were quite aggressive. Joan used to say how well they related during the war and it was through Peter and her cousin, Don Haycraft, that she was introduced to the Guise Family in 1941. During that period Peter bought a grand piano for £10 and this lived at 4 Pinfold Road, the Guise household, until it was moved to Cumberland, Joan’s farmhouse in about 1985. 

Once he became of age at twenty he then had to take on for some seven years responsibility with the public trustees for the financial affair of Joan dealing with issues such as the cost of her schooling as well as ensuring that her day to day monetary needs were satisfied.
Yet another sadness caused by war that here was a person that would have being interesting to know and great uncle to have had, died so early in life.
It has been reported by Adrian Montford, his cousin and son of Paul Montford and Marian Dibdin that he was a very likeable person who one always looked forward to seeing.