DOUGLAS GEORGE CULLINGHAM
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 Newspaper- 1944.
Born: 1925, Ipswich.
Died: 16th October 1944; age: 19 – KiA at Venray.
Residence: 14, Dickens Road, Ipswich.
Employed: at the Plough Works, of Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies, Orwell Works, Ipswich.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 14689773.
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion – Infantry.
The body was originally buried at Venray. On the 7th December 1945, the body was exhumed, identified and reburied at Venray War Cemetery, The Netherlands.
Grave Reference:
I.E.6.
Limburg,
The Netherlands.
Relatives Notified & Address: Youngest son of Arthur H. & Lily Cullingham, of Ipswich.
Father: Arthur Herbert Cullingham, born June 1890, Ipswich. A Night Watchman – Roads.
Mother: Lily Cullingham (nee English), born October 1891, Ipswich.
Sister: Gertrude Eva Lily Cullingham, born July 1918, Ipswich.
Christine Cullingham, born 1929, Ipswich – died 1929, Ipswich.
ENGLAND and WALES REGISTER 1939
Douglas lived with his parents and siblings at the family home – 14, Dickens Road, Ipswich.
Arthur Cullingham, a Night Watchman – Roads.
Lily Cullingham, unpaid Domestic Duties.
Percy Arthur Edward Cullingham, an Apprentice Floor Moulder, born April 1921, Ipswich.
Ruby May Cullingham, a Silk Machinist, born July 1923, Ipswich.
Douglas is also remembered by Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies with entrance gates, dedicated in May 1958, at Ransomes Sports’ Centre, Sidegate Avenue, Ipswich.
1st Battalion:
September 1939: On the outbreak of war, the Battalion was based in Devonport. It was part of 8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division.
October 1939: They went to France.
May/June 1940: The Battalion were evacuated from Dunkirk and returned to the UK.
June 1944: The battalion landed in Normandy (D-Day), from then on it was engaged in the North Western Europe campaign.
One Comment
I am writing a piece on Doug’s best friend, Cecil Deller, who died on Christmas Eve and who was buried recently. They were sharing the same foxhole when Doug was killed, and Cecil never forgot his friend, revisiting his grave in Venray Cemetery many times over the years. I am in contact with a group of (mostly) Dutch people who have ‘adopted’ many of the graves in an attempt to add some personal detail to the bare inscriptions on the headstones, and I have been asked if I can locate a better quality image of Douglas. Any help would be appreciated. Malcolm