Name
George William Frederick Henry Fenn
Conflict
Second World War
Date of Death / Age
11/02/1942
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Serjeant
924090
Royal Artillery
135 (The Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regt.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KRANJI WAR CEMETERY
Sp. Mem. 31. A. 6.
Singapore
Headstone Inscription
IN THE MID'ST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Hitchin Roll of Honour 1939 – 1945 (Book) St Mary’s Church, Hitchin
Biography
Died Between 11 February 1942 and 14 February 1942.
He was born on the 24th January 1908 in north London and before the war was a lorry driver. He joined the Territorial Army circa 1938 and was mobilised not long after the war commenced. His Service Number was 924090 and he was in the ill-fated 135th (Herts Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery attached to the 11th Indian Division and captured at the fall of Singapore on the 15th February 1942.
The Regiment had sailed from Gourloch at the end of October 1941 for Halifax, Nova Scotia with its 8 x 4.5 howitzers. They were transferred to the S.S. ‘Mount Vernon’ and went to Cape Town heading for the Middle East. On the way they were diverted to Singapore and arrived during an air attack on the 13th January 1942. After disembarking they were despatched to the west coast of Johore and were in action before withdrawing to Singapore Island by the 31st January 1942. They fought vigorously on the island until ordered to destroy their equipment and surrender on the 15th February 1942.
Due to the fighting and confusion at Singapore at that time, George's grave was lost but he is known to have been buried in Kranje War Cemetery, Singapore. His headstone is a Special Memorial in Plot 31, Row A, Grave 6 and is marked "Buried near this spot" and has the additional inscription "In the midst of life we are in death". The emblems on the headstone show both the badge of the Royal Artillery and the Hertfordshire Hart
He was married to Phyllis Louisa Maylin and their home was at 7, St. Andrew's Place, Hitchin. During the war Phyllis was an ironer employed at the Hitchin Laundry, Queen St. Hitchin. His parents were George and Elizabeth Fenn.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines – ‘Hitchin’s Century of Sacrifice’, Mrs P. L. Fenn - his wife, Mr C.C. Welch, a neighbour, Paul Johnson - local historian, ‘History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery - Far East Theatre - 1941-1946’ by M. Farndale
