What I do know is that Montague Burton is the largest chain of tailors in the UK. At
the end of WW II and beyond, people leaving the armed services were given a
week's pay and a voucher to take to Burtons for a new suit. Gradually the term
"Going For a Burton" became synonymous with leaving, departing, and then
evolved into dying as a result of an air crash or any other type of accent. It became
very common with the National Servicemen (Draftees) of the 50's and 60's. It
seems to have stayed with those generations.(ed: added verbatim - well done!) UK