Arthur Hector Coleby

A Private with the 1st Battalion, Arthur died on 3rd of August 1943 aged 34. 

Arthur was born at Kirkley on 7 August 1908, a son of Thomas William and Florence Elizabeth Coleby. In 1911 his family lived at 9 Ontario Road. He was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley, on 6 May 1915. By 1921 they were living at 19 Beaconsfield Road, and this was still their home in 1939 when Arthur worked as a painter. In 1940 Arthur married Edna Grace Chapman, this was registered in the Lothingland district. During the war Edna lived at 36 Mary Street, Langworth, near Mansfield. Edna remarried in 1946. 

Arthur enlisted in the Royal Artillery in 1941 and, on 13 August 1941, transferred to the Cambridgeshire Regiment and was posted to the 1st Battalion and served with D Company. 

Arthur served with the 1st Battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment. In late 1941 his battalion, as part of 18 Division, was engaged in training exercises. In October 1941 they were sent by ship to Nova Scotia and then sent to South Africa before arriving at Singapore on 29 January 1942. On 1 February the battalion moved to a position south of the aerodrome with D Company in reserve, near the naval radio station, but the company were soon moved up to a coconut grove in front of the Seletar garrison and were placed under control of the garrison. Later they moved to the Sime Road Camp and by 13 February were holding that position. The battalion were surrounded for two days but still held their positions until ordered to surrender on 15 February. 

Arthur was taken prisoner when Singapore surrendered. On 2 November 1942 he was among a party of men taken overland to Thailand to work on the Burma Railway. Arthur was at Chungkai when he died from beriberi.