Jack Gravells

A Private with the 4th Battalion. Jack died on 14th of February 1942 at the age of 27. 

Jack was born at Lowestoft on 23 June 1914, a son of Joseph and Florence Gravells. In 1911 his family had lived at 3 Turner's Cottages, Saint John's Road, Lowestoft. By 1921 they were living at 13 Clemence Street, Lowestoft, and this was still their home in 1939 at which time Jack was a fish worker. 

Jack 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. 

Jack was killed in action on 14 September 1942. He was buried at Dunearn Road, between Adam and Kheam Hock Roads, map reference 809131. On 27 December 1946 Jack's body was exhumed and he was reburied at Kranji. 

Jack's brother Edward died in 1940 while serving with H.M. Trawler Brock.