91017, Captain, Christopher Daniel Wynn MARRIOTT
Aged 36


1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment
Died on Friday 22nd May 1942

Born in Q1-1906 [Newmarket 3b:462], the 2nd son of Cecil Wynn and Mabel MARRIOTT (née WITHINGTON).

1911 census...Aged 5 he was at Portland Lodge, Hamilton Road, Newmarket with his father Cecil Wynn MARRIOTT [40] Jockey Club Land Agent born Tibself, Derbyshire; mother Mabel [39] born Knotty Ash,Liverpool; sister Marjorie [13] and brother Brian [7].All the children were born in Newmarket. His older brother Dennis was at Prep School, Elham House, in Folkstone.

In the 1939 register, at Portland Lodge, Hamilton Road, Newmarket were his father Cecil W [[5-5-1870] Jockey Club Land Agent; his mother Mabel [13-3-1872]; sister Marjorie Marriott [8-5-1897] (Commandant of Newmarket Red Cross) and brother Brian W [19-9-1903] a clerk assisting his father.

One time member of Haileybury College O.T.C.

Fable has it regarding his father that In 1940, one of Marriott's gallops foremen had been asked why no anti-glider devices had been erected on such a tempting open space as the Limekilns. "Oh sir," came the horrified reply, "Mr Marriott would never allow the Germans to land there."


Captain Marriott, usually known as "Dan", was involved in the taking of Water Tower Hill in Singapore on 13th February 1942.
"Battalion at War" by Michael Moore, regarding 'Reinforcement' Company, recounts that:-
"Capt Marriott led his men into the valley, while "D" Company laid on supporting fire with Brens and mortars, the Japanese swept the southern slopes of the hill with heavy machine gun fire,but despite appalling casualties the 'Reinforcement' Company pressed home its attack.
... Capt Marriott was seen to fall wounded when only half way up the hill, but he picked himself up and waved his men on. Capt. Marriott urged his men forward and personally led a charge towards an enemy machine gun post, which he attacked with grenades. Again he fell, shot through the body by a burst of machine gun fire, but his brave action gave his men encouragement to continue the assault. Lt Orton Taylor (also from Newmarket) immediately took command and led the attack towards the summit.
Capt Marriott survived, to be taken prisoner, and was later to die in Roberts Hospital, Changi. Buried in Changi Cemetery, he was moved to Kranji on 21st April 1946.


1st Bn Cambridgeshire Regt 1942 ........Capt Marriott seated left...... Lt Taylor back right
image from "Battalion at War"


Family plot Newmarket Cemetery New Ground D:156 - D:169 - D:183



photo from asiawargraves.com


© Commonwealth War Graves Commission


Christopher is buried in Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore Ref- 9.B.5


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


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