The story of Ivan Burger and his younger brother, both Latymerians with German roots

The story of Ivan Burger and his younger brother, both Latymerians with German roots

By Santiago in Year 11 Sometimes in History, a story with strong parallels to your own life will catch your attention and draw you in. And so it was that when I was asked to pick a former Latymerian casualty of the Second World War to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE day, I came across the story of Ivan Edward Burger and his brother, Ralph Norman. I too have a younger brother.

Ivan was born on November 17th 1925 and came to Latymer on September 14th 1938 to begin his education with a full scholarship. His younger brother was born nearly to the date a year later. Their parents were Gottfried and Martha Ellis Burger, of West Kensington, London.

One thing that may strike you there is the name ‘Gottfried’ - decidedly German, and shared with my Bavarian Grandfather. On Ivan’s entry to Latymer, his father’s occupation was listed as Butler and on Ralph’s as caterer. During the war, Ivan joined the 2nd Operators Training Battalion as a Signalman.

It was a sunny day in early August 1944, after his first year of service that Private Ivan Edward Burger was home on leave with his younger brother, who, though still enrolled at Latymer, was also home from school. That same afternoon, a V-1 flying bomb struck their family home, destroying it in its entirety. Neither brothers survived.

Ivan’s tombstone was inscribed ‘in loving memory of Ivan and his brother Ralph killed by enemy action. In death not divided.’