William George Buckenham

A Private with the 4th Battalion, William died on 18th June 1943 at the age of 28. 

William was born at Lowestoft on 13 May 1915, a son of William Henry (Harry) and May Lucy Buckenham. In 1921 his family lived at 17 Wellington Cottages, Clapham Road, and by 1939 their address was given as 17 Clapham Road, Lowestoft. In 1939 William worked as a fish buyer for a shop.

William served with the 4th Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment. In autumn 1940 the Battalion was on coastal defence in the Great Yarmouth area and then moved to Brooke, and then Cambridge. In early 1941 the Battalion was sent to Scotland, then Blackburn, and Ross-on-Wye. On 29 October 1941 the Battalion sailed form Liverpool and landed at Bombay on 29 December 1941 as part of the 18th (East Anglian) Division. On 19 January 1942 the Battalion re-embarked for Singapore and landed there on 29 January 1942. On 11 February the Battalion went into action at the racecourse, before falling back to defend the perimeter. On 15 February the British forces at Singapore were forced to surrender and the remaining men of the 4th Battalion went into captivity. 

William died as a prisoner of war in Japanese hands. He was being held at Kinsyoke (Kinsaiyor) Camp which was on the 'Burma Railway' when he died from dysentery. 

His brother Robert also served with the 4th Battalion and was killed during the capture of Singapore, which is also where William was captured. 

His parents later lived at 67 Park Road Lowestoft.