284748, Lieutenant, Ernest Kenneth Charles SKETCHER
Aged 21
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Ernest Kenneth Charles SKETCHER was born in 1923 (Kings Lynn Q2-1923 4B:491), son of Ernest and Martha Mabel SKETCHER (née CURTIS) of King's Lynn,Norfolk
He was a member of the 23rd (Culford School) Bury St Edmunds Scouts. In the 1939 register has his parents at 30 Sidney Street, Kings Lynn, father Ernest [16-2-1882] a commercial traveller (coal); his mother Martha M [1-2-1891] His will has the address as The Chase, Kings Lynn, father a coal agent. He was at Culford from 1937 to 1940. On leaving school he joined the Midland Bank at Norwich and later at Fakenham, whence he left to join the Army |
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His promotion to Lieutenant was gazetted 31st August 1943. He was attached to the 2nd battalion West Yorkshire Regiment who were with the 5th (Indian) Division. Both the 1st and 2nd Battalions were besieged in Imphal, the first time in over 60 years that the two battalions were together. They held out for two months breaking up many Japanese attacks, until they were relieved on 22nd June. On 19th May only Ernest and one other were killed. Thanks to the School magazine we have a letter from his Commanding Officer to Mr. and Mrs. Sketcher, dated May 17th 1944 informing them that Kenneth had been in command of a long distance patrol raiding the enemy's supply route:- "They had surprised and routed a party of Japanese resting in a village and were lying in ambush on a track. Several hours later the patrol engaged another party of the enemy and after a while, Kenneth, in accordance with his Colonel's instructions, ordered the patrol to withdraw. Kenneth, with one private retired last down the hill, the private rejoining the remainder of the patrol. Search was made in the jungle by other patrols, including one under the personal command of the Company Commander. Unfortunately the jungle was very dense and the search was in vain. Later a report came from native sources that the body of a British soldier had been seen in that area, and the Colonel of the Battalion has concluded that Kenneth was killed while returning down the hill." |
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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