L/Bdr. Richard E. Cumberbatch - Pulloxhill War Memorial, St James' Church, Church Road, Pulloxhill, Bedfordshire, UK
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Dragontree
N 51° 59.563 W 000° 27.336
30U E 674688 N 5763285
Lance Bombardier Richard Cumberbatch 931467 from the 137 Field Regt., Royal Artillery is commemorated here on this war memorial. He died whilst captive in the Far East.
Waymark Code: WMEF6G
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 05/20/2012
Views: 1
It is unusual to come across a name on a war memorial stating the fallen man died in Thailand; but here Lance Bombardier Richard Elkin Cumberbatch is inscribed.
The website below describes his experiences in the Far East in an account by hs friend, Charles Douglas. Richard is buried in the CHUNGKAI WAR CEMETERY in Thailand. After surviving the pains of the Death Railway and spending time at Non Pladok and Nathom Patom Richard became deaf. It was on 3rd December 1944 that an Allied Air Raid took place and he did not hear the attack; therefore did not hear the planes and failed to take shelter.