No.2070769, Sapper, Albert Bert BRANCH
Aged 23
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Albert Bert Branch was born in 1920 (Thetford Q1-1920 4B:727), son of Frederick and Helen BRANCH (née ASHLEY). In the 1939 register, at 141 Thetford Road, Brandon, were his mother Helen BRANCH [31-7-1889] widow, his sister Doreen M [18-2-1928] scholar (later Mrs GURKLIS) and John MEEKS [18-6-1907] (public works contractor's labourer). There are 2 closed records. It may be that his father died in 1931. (Branch, Frederick aged 45 Thetford Q1-1931 4b-443) |
click here to go to the ww2.brandonatwar.co.uk website for more information
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The local press in May 1943:- P.O.W. - Mrs F Branch, Thetford Road, has been officially notified that her son, Sapper Albert Bert Branch, Royal Engineers, is a Prisoner Of War at a camp in Malaya. This is the first news of her son for 14 months. Mrs Branch has another son and son-in-law also missing, as well as two nephews. Another son is currently serving with His Majesty's Forces in India. Albert was captured on 15th February 1942, the day Singapore was surrendered to the Japanese, he was then put to work on the Burma-Thailand railway. His Japanese PoW card has not been found online sadly. |
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details