5951789, Private, James Oliver Robert BURCH
Aged 23


5th Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment
Died of illness in captivity on Tuesday 8th June 1943

Born on 13th October 1919 in Newmarket [Newmarket Q3-1919 3b:836], the only son of Frank Oliver Robert and Pamela Martha BURCH (née GRAVES) of 30 St Philips Road, Newmarket.


In the 1939 register he was an accountant's clerk, living at 30 St Philips Road, Newmarket with his parents, Frank O R BURCH [12-6-1882] a draper's manager; his mother Pamela M [22-10-1882] and Sidney Ronald HOPKINS [20-2-1927] (an evacuee perhaps?).



He was captured at the surrender of Singapore to the Japanese on 15th February 1942 and died at Kinsayok Camp on the Burma Railway.





photo from asiawargraves.com

No known grave - James is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial at Kranji - Ref; column 62
and also commemorated on the Exning Road plaque, now kept in the Exning Road Workingmens Club, Newmarket


click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details



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