William Edward Barley

A Gunner with  352 Battery, 88 Field Regiment, William died on 26th of July 1943 at the age of 35. 

William was born at Wandsworth, London, on 8 December 1907, a son of George and Gertrude Ellen Barley. In 1911 his family lived at 6 Beach Stone Place, Pakefield. From 6 May 1912 William attended Cunningham Infant School. 

In the 1920s William served with the Roya West Kent Regiment, service number 6339715. 

In May 1938 William was appointed postman at Oulton Broad. 

On 26 December 1938 William married Clara May Stannard at Saint John's Church, Lowestoft. William was a postman and they both lived at 19A Surrey Street, Lowestoft. In 1939 they lived at Olive View, Chestnut Avenue, Lowestoft.  

William joined the Roya Artillery in 1940. He served with 88 Field Regiment. His Regiment was sent to Malaya in November 1941 and were sent, by train, to Mantin. The Regiment's three batteries were sent to Ipoh, Alor Star and Kuantan. The Regiment was moved over Fraser's Gap to the west coast, north of Kuala Lumpur and were involved in numerous engagements as they fought their wat down the peninsula to Singapore, arriving there on 31 January 1942. As Singapore fell they were given orders to destroy or disable their guns: the Regiment were proud that, up to this point, they had not lost any of their guns. William, with the rest of the Regiment, was taken prisoner at the Fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942. The men were, initially sent to Changi and in April 1942 sent back to Singapore in working parties. By the end of 1942 most of the men had been sent to other camps: many, like William, to work on the Burma Railway.   

William was being held at Tonchan when he died from beri-beri, and cardiac complications. He was buried at Tonchan South Cemetery and later reburied at Kanchanaburi.  

William's name is recorded in the General Post Office Memorial Book. See GPO War Heroes