ALFRED JOHN ARTHUR BURROWS

Born: 1st November 1910, Ipswich.

Died: 11th November 1943; age: 33; killed in a Japanese bomb raid at Kumbhirgram.

Residence: 13, Medway Road, Ipswich.

Occupation: a Gas Meter Collector.

Rank: Corporal; Service Number: 1198266.

Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 110 Squadron.

Grave Reference:

4. E. 3.

Gauhati War Cemetery,

Guwahati,

Assam,

India.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son John Alfred & Florence May Burrows; husband of Lilian Alice Burrows, of Kempston, Bedfordshire.

CENSUS

1911   42, Salisbury Road, Ipswich.

Alfred was 5 months old and living with his parents & sisters.

John Alfred Burrows, 27, a House Painter, born Ipswich.

Florence May Burrows (nee King), 27, born Dedham, Essex.

Florence May King Burrows, 7, born Ipswich.

Ivy Catherine Burrows, 4, born Ipswich.

Olive Ada L. Burrows, 2, born Ipswich.

In 1936, Ipswich, Alfred married Lilian Alice Waters, born February 1914, Ipswich, daughter of Charles John Waters, a carpenter and May Marie (nee Bloom).

Charles John Waters was killed in action in 1915, aged 31.

ENGLAND & WALES REGISTER 1939

Alfred was a Gas Meter Collector and an Air Raid Precaution Warden, he was living with Lilian at their family home – 13, Medway Road, Ipswich.

Probate to Lilian Alice Burrows – widow.

Alfred is also remembered on the war memorial at St. Augustine of Hippo, Ipswich.

11th November 1943

Aircraft: Vultee Vengeance dive bomber; based at Kumbhirgram airfield, Eastern India. The unit was carrying out attacks on the Japanese across the border in Burma.

On the 11th November 1943, at 09:12hrs, a force of 18 Japanese Ki48 bombers escorted by 6 Ki43 fighters attacked Kumbhirgram airfield. There had been warning of the raid and the based squadrons – 110 and 45 – managed to scramble their Vengeance aircraft before the enemy attacked. This prevented them being destroyed on the ground. The Japanese dropped about 50 bombs which damaged 5 aircraft (1 from 45 Squadron and 4 from 110 Squadron) that had not been able to take off. Three 110 Squadron ground crew were killed in the raid which targeted the aircraft dispersal areas – Alfred Burrows, John Crockett and James Hall. A further 6 110 Squadron personnel were wounded, 2 of them seriously.

John Joseph Crockett; Leading Aircraftman; age: 24; R.A.F.V.R.

James McKendrick Hall; Leading Aircraftman; age: 31; R.A.F.V.R.

Aircraft information courtesy of John Allan