ARTHUR WILLIAM SURRY

From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730

As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570

Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.

Image from the Evening Star – 25th February 1942

Born: 24th June 1917, Ipswich.

Died: 28th January 1942; age: 24; KiA against the Japanese 2 miles south of Senggarang during the fierce fighting at Senggarang, in the Batu Pahat district, Malaysia.

Residence: 7, Prospect Road, Ipswich.

Occupation: a Brickwork’s Labourer.

Rank: Lance Corporal; Service Number: 5828800.

Regiment: Cambridgeshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion – Infantry.

Body not recovered.

Memorial Reference:

Column 57.

Singapore Memorial,

Kranji,

Singapore.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Mr & Mrs James William Surry, of Ipswich.

Father: Benjamin James Surry, born 1882, Ipswich – died 1934, Ipswich.

Mother: May Miriam Surry (nee Clements), born April 1883, Ipswich.

Benjamin and May separated.

CENSUS

1921   35, Gibson Street, Ipswich.

Arthur was 3 years and 11 months old and lived with his mother and siblings.

May Surry, 39 years & 2 months old, Home Duties.

Benjamin James Surry, 16 years & 6 months old, an Errand Boy for Ipswich Meat Company, of Westgate Street, Ipswich, born Ipswich.

Ivy Mary Surry, 13 years & 9 months old, at School, born Ipswich.

1921   46, College Street, Southampton, Hampshire.

Benjamin Surry, 38 years & 3 months old, an Iron Moulder for John Isaac Thornycroft, of Woolston Works, Southampton.

May Miriam Surry, 11 years & 8 months old, at School, born Ipswich.

Annie Maud Surry, 9 years & 2 months old, at School, born Ipswich.

Robert David Surry, 7 years old, at School, born Ipswich.

Ralph Edgar Surry, 1 week old, born Southampton.

Ethel May Swain (nee Chalk), 24 years, Housekeeper, born Southampton.

Royston Lionel Swain, 3 years & 3 months old, born Southampton.

ENGLAND & WALES REGISTER 1939

Arthur was a Brickwork’s Labourer. He was living with his mother at their family home – 44, Campbell Road, Ipswich.

May, unpaid Domestic Duties.

1 other.

In 1939, in Deben, Suffolk, Arthur married Marjorie May Emeny, born October 1921, Ipswich – daughter of George William Emeny, a general labourer and Edith May Emeny (nee Peake), of 29, Hilton Road, Ipswich.

Marjorie and Arthur had one son:

James W. Surry, born 1940, Ipswich.

The Battalion was attached to the 18th East Anglian Division ( including the 4/5th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment)
15th February 1942: After the Fall of Singapore, approximately 620 of the Battalions were taken POW and later mostly died on the Burma-Thailand Railway.

Before the fall of Singapore in February, fierce fighting took place against the Japanese. The British and allied forces held onto bridges causeways and railheads in an attempt to hold back the Japanese push across Malaya and onto Singapore. Singapore fell on 15th February 1942 and the largest surrender of British-led military personnel in history 80,000 British, Indian and Australian troops became prisoners of war, joining 50,000 taken by the Japanese in the earlier Malayan Campaign.