Ernest Robert James Read Woolnough

A Sergeant with 197 Field Ambulance, Ernest died on 26th of December 1942 aged 25. 

Ernest was born at Lowestoft on 15 February 1917, a son of Ernest Charles and Ruby Elizabeth Rosamund Adams Woolnough. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 29 April 1917 and his family lived at Oulton Street. Later his parents lived at 50 Lowestoft Road, Carlton Colville. 

On 18 September 1937 Ernest married Edith Cavell Block at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley. Ernest was a net worker and Edith a beatster and they both lived at Kirkley. In 1939 they lived at 159 The Avenue and subsequently Edith lived at 4 Oulton Street. 

Ernest served with 197 Field Ambulance. His unit was formed in Norfolk in 1940 and was part of the 18th Division. The 197th embarked S.S. Oronsay, at Liverpool, on 30 October 1941 and departed for Halifax, Nova Scotia, where they embarked on American liners. His unit then sailed for South Africa before arriving in Bombay, India, on 27 December 1941. On 19 January 1942 the unit was embarked and their ship formed part of a convoy that arrived at Keppel Harbour, Singapore, later that month. 

During the Japanese assault on Singapore Ernest’s unit were involved in treating the numerous casualties. Ernest was captured at the Fall of Singapore 15 February 1942 and was held in the Changi district of Singapore. He died on 26 December 1942 from malignant disease of his right lung. He was buried at Changi cemetery on 26 December 1942 and in 1946 he was re-buried at Kranji War Cemetery.