I have been told
that it's roughly the old British forces equivalent of "bought the farm" - he's gone to buy a suit from a civvie street retailer, i.e he's been invalided out (or more likely dead). May be lies. Seems plausible though.
(richardm, Fri 4 Nov 2011, 12:25, 1 reply)

Perhaps
Burton was the supplier of choice to the undertaking trade for customers who didn't own a suit?
( wakeupandsmellthebacon, Fri 4 Nov 2011, 12:37, closed)

sounds about right, I was brought up with it meaning something going wrong but if it does actually mean dying then I guess that it can also be applied to the date dying it's arse.

Does anyone want to hear how I upset a Lady Gaga fan?
(Official Sarc, Fri 4 Nov 2011, 13:43, closed)

yeah
why not
(andythepieman Is surfing the waves of indifference on, Fri 4 Nov 2011, 16:45, closed)