TAIPING WAR CEMETERY (MALAYSIA)
HISTORY INFORMATION
At the time of the Japanese invasion of Malaya, Taiping was on the British line of retreat down the west coast. Its normal garrison of one Indian Infantry Battalion had been augmented, a casualty reception station organised, arrangements made with the civilian authorities for the provision of 500 beds for military patients, and 20 Combined General Hospital (Indian Army) had been posted there.
During the fighting the Indian 6th and 15th Brigades used Taiping as a rest and re-fitment centre for a few days; and, as the withdrawal southwards developed, numerous Indian Army medical units worked there for short periods before each in turn had to move towards Singapore with the fighting forces.
Taiping War Cemetery was created by the Army after the defeat of Japan for the reception of graves brought from the battlefields, from numerous temporary burial grounds, and from village and other civil cemeteries where permanent maintenance would not be possible.
There are separate entrances to the two parts, the plots of Christian graves lying on the south-eastern side of the road and the Muslim and Gurkha graves on the opposite side. In the Muslim and Gurkha section the Stone of Remembrance stands in front of a high bank which forms the north-western boundary. The two small shelters in the cemetery have been constructed of local stone, and a low stone wall flanks the road on each side.
There are now 864, 1939-1945 war Commonwealth casualties and 1 Dutch casualty commemorated in this site, more than 500 of whom are unidentified.
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SURNAME
Rigby
FORENAME
James
UNIT
Force 136 SOE
RANK
Captain
NUMBER
343921
DATE OF DEATH
9th November 1945
AGE
43
GRAVESITE
Taiping War Cemetery,Malaysia 3.C.2
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit General List
born 4.3.1902 West Hartlepool,County Durham
son of James Thomas and...
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SURNAME
Mellor
FORENAME
Ernest William Benn
UNIT
R.M. HMS Chinkara
RANK
Lance Corporal
NUMBER
CH/X 113915
DATE OF DEATH
20th November 1945
AGE
19
GRAVESITE
Taiping War Cemetery,Malaysia 1.K.17
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 07.02.1926, Marylebone, London
son of Ernest...
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SURNAME
Taylor
FORENAME
Roy Charles
UNIT
7 Para
RANK
Lance Sergeant
NUMBER
11497534
DATE OF DEATH
14th July 1946
AGE
20
GRAVESITE
Taiping War Cemetery,Malaysia 1.K.7
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Charles William and Vera Edith Taylor,Faversham,Kent
died Malaya
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SURNAME
Lee
FORENAME
Colin
UNIT
7 Para
RANK
Private
NUMBER
14771043
DATE OF DEATH
14th July 1946
AGE
20
GRAVESITE
Taiping War Cemetery,Malaysia 1.K.8
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Thomas and Florence May Lee
died Malaya
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SURNAME
Mitchell
FORENAME
Morley William
UNIT
7 Para
RANK
Sergeant
NUMBER
5511499
DATE OF DEATH
13th July 1946
AGE
23
GRAVESITE
Taiping War Cemetery,Malaysia 1.K.6
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Phillip Charles and Violet Ellan Mitchell,Falmouth,Cornwall
awarded M.M...
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SURNAME
Dunkerley
FORENAME
Jack
UNIT
7 Para
RANK
Private
NUMBER
14827900
DATE OF DEATH
30th June 1946
AGE
20
GRAVESITE
Taiping War Cemetery,Malaysia 1.K.18
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Squire and Hilda Dunkerley,Oldham,Lancashire
died Malaya
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SURNAME
Kean
FORENAME
Albert Melville
UNIT
7 Para
RANK
Sergeant
NUMBER
4469953
DATE OF DEATH
17th June 1946
AGE
26
GRAVESITE
Taiping War Cemetery,Malaysia 4.B.3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Albert Melville and Mary Elizabeth Kean,Workington,Cumberland
died Malaya