England, Jack

Age: 37
Date of birth: 6th July 1907

Parents: Arthur Wellesley England and Mary Ann Eliza England (nee Grant)
Wife: Hilda Rawlins
Address: 11 Peel Road, Warwick

Occupation: Career soldier

Jack’s parents were Arthur Wellesley England (1897-1945) and Mary Ann Eliza England nee Grant (1875-1955).

Jack was born in Wormleighton in Warwickshire on 6th July 1907 and baptised in the parish church there on 22nd September 1907.

The 1911 census shows that Jack was the fourth of five brothers at that time – his brothers were Harold Ernest (1900-1956), Arthur Wellesley Junior (1902-1966), Stanley Thomas (1904-1964), and Kenneth George (1910-1920). Jack’s father was a postman. A sister, Rose Verdun (1916-2005) followed and she was born in Southam, Warwickshire. Kenneth died four years leater, in 1920, aged 10.

Jack married Hilda Rawlins in the fourth quarter of 1935. The 1939 Register shows him living at 3 The Close, Leamington Spa and his occupation is given as serving in “B Battery, B Squadron, 50th Anti Tank Regiment” so this shows he was a career soldier before that time. A later address, cited on Jack’s POW Index Card shows that his wife was living at 4 Lyttleton Road, Warwick. He left an estate of £1003 9s 4d to his wife, Hilda. The address for probate was given as 68 Honiton Road, Coventry.

Jack and Hilda has a son, details of whom are not known.

Military Service

Rank & Number: Bombardier, 812557
Regiment/Service: 1 Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment
Brigade/Division: Hong Kong Section Royal Artillery
Date of death: 9th April 1945
Cause of death/Battle: Died of wounds whilst a Japanese prisoner of war
Commemorated/Buried: Buried in Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore - grave reference 25.E.12.
Awards:
Commemorated locally at:

News of Jack’s capture as a Prisoner of War reached his wife in July 1943.  Sadly he perished whilst a POW nearly two years later.  Jack is buried in Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore:

 

 

Contributors

  • Unlocking Warwick Research Group
  • Warwick Advertiser excerpt courtesy of Warwick County Record Office

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