No.5835518, Private, Aubrey William LE PLA
Aged 32
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Aubrey William Le Pla was born on 31st March 1909 in Burwell (Newmarket Q2-1909 3B:479), son of Frederic George and Ellen LE PLA (née RICKARD). Some of the family used the
surname Lepla and others Le Pla. The newsagent's in St Mary's Square, Newmarket were Lepla.
1911 census...Aged 2, he was at High Street, Burwell with his father Frederic G. Le PLA [48] mineral water manufacturer, born Burwell, his mother Ellen [43] born Kingston on Thames; brothers Douglas F [10] and Basil R [7] both born in Burwell; widowed grandmother Marianne RICKARD [76] born Burwell and invalid aunt Susan RICKARD [40] born Burwell. In the 1939 register Aubrey, a horseman on farm, his father [4-7-1862] a retired farmer; mother [7-1-1868] and brother Douglas F [24-7-1900] , were at The Poplars, Low Road, Burwell. His father died in 1940. |
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The 2nd battalion of the Cambridgeshire Regiment arrived in Singapore ahead of their 1st battalion, on 13th January 1942 and were straight into action on
the 16th, around Batu Pahat. Forced to retreat towards Sengarang on the 25th they found they were cut off. Ordered to destroy all guns and transport, they were
then to attempt to break out through the jungle in small groups. Amazingly many did get through to Singapore, 70 miles away. Aubrey was not one of these.
How, where and when he actually died will probably never be known, the date of death here is actually the last time he was seen.
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click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details
