WHITTINGTON, Basil Arthur

Credit: Gay Newman

Serjeant

78 Battery 35 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment

Royal Artillery

Basil was born in Newport on the 29th of May 1916 to James & Violet of 30 Hunnyhill, Newport.

Basil was captured by the Japanese at the fall of Singapore in 1942. He died as a Prisoner of War at Kuching Camp, Borneo on the 7th July 1945. Originally buried by other prisoners at Lingtang Camp Cemetery, Basil’s body was exhumed & reburied, with honours, at Labuan War Cemetery on the 15th June 1946 alongside 1,791 of his comrades. A Pedestal Marker marks his grave with the family inscription: “UNTIL THE DAY BREAK AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY”. Basil was 29.

Basil is also remembered on the Newport Borough War Memorial.

CWGC Casualty Record

Cemetary

Sons & Daughters Commemorated Far From Home

Those from the Newport & Carisbrooke area who are buried or commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission outside of the area, both in the UK and in other countries.

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The image is of the Tyne Cot Military Cemetery & Memorial in Belgium.