Arthur Charles Thacker
A Gunner with 317 Battery, 36 Searchlight Regiment, Arthur died on 18th of February 1941 aged 20.
Arthur was born at Pakefield on 11 November 1920, a son of Arthur Henry and Elizabeth Alice Thacker. He was baptised at All Saints’ Church, Pakefield, on 12 December 1920. By 1939 his family were living at 92 Long Road.
We know from his service number that Arthur joined the Royal Engineers, and it is likely that he served with the 36th (Middlesex) Anti-Aircraft Battalion Royal Engineers which, in January 1940, became the 36th Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery. By February 1941his unit was based in the Ely area.
The precise details of what happened to Arthur are unclear. He was reported missing from his unit and initially declared a deserter. However, he was found drowned in the River Ouse. Official casualty list 511 of 12 May 1941 states that he died as the result of an accident. An inquest, held at Ely, recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.
Arthur Charles Thacker (1920-1941). I don't quite know where Arthur's searchlight battery was located or the circumstances in which he died, but his death was registered in Ely registration district, Cambridgeshire, so it would appear that he did not die locally. Also, according to the online Kirkley municipal cemetery databse, he was not buried until 4 April (some 6 weeks after his death - a very long gap between death and burial in those days). I don't know whether there is a mistranscription in the online burial date (not unknown), or whether perhaps he was cremated before his ashes were returned home for interment? CREDIT:Andy Pearce
Arthur Thacker
92
Long Road
Lowestoft
United Kingdom
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