No.5833804, Private, Cecil Herbert DORLING
Aged 31
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Cecil Herbert Dorling was born in Thetford on 29th March 1912,(Thetford Q2-1912 4B:568), son of Herbert and Florence May DORLING (née TASH) of 102 London Road, Brandon.
In civilian life he was involved in the work of the Methodist Chapel and was employed by Messrs. S. and P. Lingwood. In the 1939 register, Cecil H DORLING was at 154 London Road, Brandon, a furrier's labourer,with his widowed grandmother Mary A DORLING [24-3-1865]; aunt Lily M DORLING [6-5-1900] single, a furrier's labourer, and Frank W DORLING [28-9-1924] a furrier's labourer (cousin?). There is one closed record. at 102 London Road, Brandon, were his father Herbert [28-5-1889, a warrener; his mother Florence M [13-8-1892] and sister? Phyllis [13-10-1920] later Mrs MACKENDER, a skin factory worker. There is one closed record Cecil was the nephew of William DORLING, killed in 1918 in France see here |
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He was captured on 15th February 1942 when Singapore was surrendered to the Japanese. The 1st Cambridgeshires were fighting to the last minute in the region just NW of Sime Road. He died from beri-beri at Takanun, Thailand. His Japanese PoW card has not been found. Originally buried in grave 165 at Takanun, he was moved to Kanchanaburi in February 1946 The book "Battalion at War" by Michael Moore Gliddon Books ISBN 0 947893 24 5 tells the story of the last days of fighting in Singapore by the 1st Cambridgeshires in some detail. |
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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