No. 78249, Captain, Cecil William Robin CUTLACK
Aged 26
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Cecil William Robin Cutlack was born in 1915 (Chesterton Q2-1915 3B:723), the only son of Colonel William P. and Dora CUTLACK (née DORMER) (of The Manor, Barton Mills).
It was Cecil's father (a brewery director) who unveiled the World War Two memorial plaque. In 1939 his father [5-8-1881] retired Colonel/Brewery director and mother [24-7-1901] were at The Manor, Barton Mills. |
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The 2nd Cambridgeshires arrived in Singapore on 13th January 1941, thinking they would spend some time training. Instead they were rushed off on the 16th to
Batu Pahat on the mainland. It was a very small force to try and resist the advance of the Japanese, who by the 22nd had cut them off from all supplies of food
or ammunition.
On the 23rd orders were received to retire some miles down the road and fight a delaying action. No sooner had they left Batu Pahat when another signal was
received, cancelling the first order and they were ordered to retake the town. This was a costly mistake, as the town was now occupied by the Japanese who
held the defensive positions that the British had so carefully prepared. The town was reoccupied that night by the 2nd Battalion, assisted by two companies of the 5th Norfolks. The Japanese held on grimly to Hill 127 and were only dislodged by a series of company attacks in the course of which "B" Coy commander, Captain Cutlack was mortally wounded. 10 others of the battalion fell that day. Batu Pahat was again left by the British on the 25th. The Bury Free Press of 28th February 1942 reported
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission and also commemorated on the war memorial in Ely click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
