LEONARD STANLEY FINBOW
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 – 14th April 1942.
Born: 1918, Ipswich.
Died: 17th November 1945; age: 27; of Rheumatic Carditis and Acute Rheumatism at Wharncliffe Emergency Hospital, Wadsley, Bradfield, Ecclesfield, Yorkshire.
Residence: 57, Clifford Road, Ipswich.
Employed: by Foster Bros., Upper Brook Street, Ipswich.
Repatriated Prisoner of War – number 250228 – at Stalag IV-F, Hartmannsdorf, Saxony, Germany.
Rank: Gunner; Service Number: 953063.
Regiment: Royal Artillery, 67 Medium Regiment.
Grave Reference:
C.31.83.
Ipswich.
Father: Charles Ernest Finbow, born May 1877, Cotton, Suffolk – died August 1944. A Painter & Decorator.
Mother: Annie Elizabeth Finbow (nee Saunders), born 1879, Ipswich.
Finbow family home – 13, Cromer Road, Ipswich.
In 1941, in Ipswich, Leonard married Kathleen Ruth Pledger, a drapery shop assistant, born February 1916, Ipswich – daughter of Walter Pledger, a carpenter and joiner, and Louisa Pledger (nee Smith), of 57, Clifford Road, Ipswich.
Kathleen and Leonard had one daughter.
Probate to Kathleen Ruth Finbow – widow.
67th Medium Regiment (Suffolk) R.A. (T.A.)
Consisted of: HQ, 232 Battery (Ipswich), 231 Battery (Woodbridge & Felixstowe)
67th Medium Regiment was raised in 1939 as a duplicate of 58th (Suffolk) Medium Regiment R.A. (T.A.) (part of the doubling of the TA in 1939), with 231 and 232 Batteries.
Men were recruited in Ipswich, Felixstowe and Woodbridge in 1939. On the outbreak of war, the Regiment served in defence of south east England against enemy attack.
The Regement was sent to North Africa in July 1941 as part of the Operation Crusader. It served under the 8th Army in the Western Desert from November 1941 until June 1942. The entire Regiment was captured in Tobruk on 21st June 1942.
Disembarked – Sevenoaks – Avonmouth – Clyde – Port Azores – Freetown – Durban – Aden – Sudan – Port Tewfick – Qassan – Mersa Matruh – Sidi Barrani – Bug-Bug – Halfaya – Saffafia – Point 207 – Fort Capuzzo – Bardia – Sidi Rezegh – Point 207 – Sollum – Mersa Matruh – Gambut – El Adem – Fort Acrome – Gazala – Knightsbridge – Tobruk – Captured 21/6/1942
On surrender, the men became prisoners of the Italy army and were transferred to Italian POW camps. The Italian armistice on 3rd Sept. 1943 enabled some to escape back to Allied Lines or to Switzerland, most were transported to POW camps in Germany, Austria and Poland. The majority of casualties in the Regiment resulted from the sinking of the Italian merchant ship SS Scillin in November 1942.
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