Reay Edward Sergeant 4269426
Personnel Entry
Name Reay Edward
Army number 4269426
Rank Sergeant
Decorations None as far as is known.
Date of birth Birth registered Q3 1914 Morpeth, Northumberland. Mother's maiden surname Wanless.
Age 29 at the time of his death.
Unit Enlisted in the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. Posted to the 9th Battalion. Served B.E.F.? Served Malaya. Shot 23/3/1943 whilst a prisoner of the Japanese – location Chungkai, Siam. (Regimental notes give the date of his death as 30/3/1943).
Company/Battery X Company.
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role Not yet known.
Joined Brigade
Promotions Sergeant.
Wounded Not as far as is known - it is assumed that his death by shooting was instantaneous.
Prisoner of War Yes – captured 15/2/1942 at Singapore when the force was surrendered.
Died/Killed in action DIED 23/3/1943 - EXECUTED by the Japanese after escaping from Tarkilen on the night of 6/7/March 1943. Initially interred in Grave 4 in the jungle near Chungkai - possibly located at Tarkilen. Re-interred 19/3/1946 in Grave 8.K.31. Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. Headstone inscription reads:- "GRANT HIM, O LORD, ETERNAL PEACE".
Home address Son of Foster and Gertrude Reay. Husband of Lily Reay of Ashington, Northumberland. Wife lived at 5, Latimer Street, Bolton, Lancs.
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