FREDERICK GEORGE HENRY LEEK
Photo courtesy of Julie.
Image from 17th March 1945 – Evening Star
Born: 5th December 1907, Woodbridge, Suffolk.
Died: 25th August 1943; age 35; died of Malaria and Heart Failure – whilst a Japanese PoW – Thailand – Burma Railway.
Details of Frederick’s death was learned from statements of repatriated Prisoners of War.
Captured: 15th February 1942 – Fall of Singapore.
Residence: ‘Labada’ 770, Foxhall Road, Ipswich.
Rank: Company Sergeant Major/Warrant Officer Class II; Service Number: 5823687.
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion.
Grave Reference:
4.E.1.
Thailand.
Image courtesy of Elaine McGough.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of James Thomas Leek & Beatrice Louisa Leek; husband of Lily Ellen Leek, of Ipswich.
CENSUS
1911 Brook Street, Woodbridge, Suffolk.
Frederick was 3 years old and living with his maternal uncle & aunt, cousins & sister.
William Henry Finney, 54, a Quay Labourer, born Trimley, Suffolk.
Martha Elizabeth Finney (nee Blake), 50, born Kent.
Ethel Cecilia Finney, 20, born Woodbridge, Suffolk.
Gertrude May Finney, 17, born Woodbridge.
Norah May Leek, 5, Woodbridge.
Father: James Thomas Leek, born 1881, Snape, Suffolk.
Mother: Beatrice Louisa Leek (nee Finney), born 1888, Woodbridge, Suffolk.
Frederick was a well-known Ipswich, Suffolk County and Territorial athlete.
In 1934, Ipswich, Frederick married Lily Ellen Stowe, born February 1905, Ipswich – daughter of Joseph Stowe, a labourer, and Florence Alice Stowe (nee Fitch), of Ipswich.
They had 1 son:
Anthony J.S. Leek, born 1937, Ipswich.
ENGLAND & WALES REGISTER 1939.
Lily was the Licensed Victualler, at The Swan, St. Ives, Huntingdonshire. Baby Anthony was living with Lily.
Probate to George Robert East, a retired Flour Packer.
Frederick is also remembered on the war memorial at Rushmere St. Andrew, Suffolk.
Wife, Lily Ellen Leek (nee Stowe) father Joseph Stowe died during the First World War of Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion.
The Battalion was attached to the 18th East Anglian Division.( including 4/5th Battalion the Suffolk Regiment)
15 February 1942: After the fall of Singapore, approximately 620 of the Battalions were taken PoW and later mostly died on the Burma-Thailand Railway.
7 Comments
Hi there I was just at the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, and by chance took a photograph of Frederick Leek’s grave. I was touched by the message, and that is why I photographed it among all the graves there. “Remembered and loved forever by Lily and son Tony”. If whoever moderates this page or a relative of Frederick’s would like a copy I am happy to send it. Kind regards Elaine
Hello after doing family tree I believe that he was my great uncle and would love to hear anything more thank you for taking this picture it’s amazing
Yes we also went to the Cemetery in Thailand six years ago and I commented to my husband whilst taking a picture that his mothers side were Leeks from Suffolk. All this years later with the free ancestry records I have found out that he was my mother in law’s cousin.
Wow. This is so lovely to see. Anthony Leek is my Grandad, still alive and well living in Suffolk. I look forward to sharing this with him. Thank you.
Best wishes
Carina
Wow it’s amazing we have the same family and same name your grandads dad was my great uncle he was my grandad Olaf victor leeks brother I think been doing my family tree I feel for your grandad he must of missed having a father but must be so proud x
Hi, after doing my family tree Beatrice Louisa Leek ( Finney) married Walter G Plumb. They had my grandad James Frederick Plumb.
Thank you for your hard work in giving us access to this information. I am Fred’s 1st cousin 2x removed. My father tells me he was a strong and proud man who would have defended his honour against his captors.