Peter James Fursman was commissioned into The Parachute Regiment in December 1965.On promotion to Captain in 1971 he became the Adjutant for 10 PARA, Territorial Army.

He was promoted to Major on 30 June 1978 and appointed as the Officer Commanding A Company, 2 PARA.

Fursman deployed to Northern Ireland for the start of a two year residential tour of Northern Ireland the following year in July 1979.

He died on 27 August 1979, aged 34 years, as a result of the Warrenpoint IRA bombing in which 18 paratroopers were killed.