Peter was the fourth and youngest son of Ernest Pitman and his wife Frances Isabel Butler. He was born in Kensington. He had two younger sisters. Ernest’s father, Sir Isaac Pitman, was the designer of the shorthand writing system.
He Matriculated in 1929. He assumed the name of Butler whilst up at Christ Church. His College record card notes that this is ”not hyphenated”.
On 14 July 1930, he was gazetted as a University Candidate to the Officer Training Corps and on 29 January 1931, he was gazetted as a University Cadet to be a Second Lieutenant in the 7th Hussars.
He gave his address as c/o The Cavalry Club, 127 Piccadilly, W1 and, later, at Abdel Moniem Barracks, Abbassia near Cairo, Egypt.
He died in the Military Hospital, Alexandria on 17 July 1940 from wounds received in action.
He is buried in the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery plot P. 240.
He is commemorated along with his brother, John, [see his file] and his sister, Honor Salmon, on the War Memorial in the churchyard of St. Peter’s Church, Dyrham. Their parents lived at The Cottage, Dyrham.
First Officer Honor Isabel Salmon (née Pitman) of the Air Transport Auxiliary, formerly of the Women's Transport Service (F.A.N.Y.), died aged 30 on 19 April 1943.
Administration of his Estate was granted to his father. He left £29,707-0-10.
His oldest brother, Isaac James Pitman, was also up at Christ Church and Peter’s record card shows that the College received a letter from him on 9 September 1936 concerning Peter’s address.