Lance Corporal Harold Edward Eke Royal Norfolk Regiment
1939-45 Star. Pacific Sar. War Medal 1939-45.
The Man Harold Edward Eke was born on Saturday 30th June 1917 in Greenwich, London, Son of Edward Wallis an Engineer’s Surveyor and Gertrude Alice nee Bastable, he had one brother John Herbert (1924-2009).
The 1921 census shows the family living at Turholme Gt North Road, Potters Bar, Middlesex and following his education Harold became a Commercial Traveller and in 1939 was still with his parents at 69 Hatfield Road, Potter Bar.
Following the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Harold was called up and enlisted into the 5th Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment with service number 5775829, later being promoted to Lance Corporal. The 5th and 6th (City of Norwich) Battalions were both assigned to the 53rd Infantry Brigade and the 4th Battalion the 54th Infantry Brigade. Both brigades were part of the 18th Infantry Division. Throughout most of their existence, all three battalions remained in the United Kingdom assigned to coastal defence duties and training to repel a German invasion. In October 1941 however, the division left, destined for the Middle East and fought in the defence of Singapore and Malaya against the Japanese advance. The men of these battalions, and other East Anglian battalions of other regiments, ended up as prisoners of war when Singapore fell on 15th February 1942. On this day Harold was taken as a prisoner of war.
He remained in Singapore until the 15th March 1943 when he was shipped overland by train to Thailand where he was forced to work on the infamous Burma Railway at Tha Kanun, in Kanchanaburi Provence. Harold survived but two months longer and died of ‘Indigestion’ (known as refeeding syndrome, where sudden and potentially fatal heart failure occurred after prolonged starvation when prisoners began to eat again. This was not due to simple indigestion but was a complex medical condition caused by the severe metabolic imbalances resulting from malnutrition) on 15th May 1943, aged just 25 and was buried at Tha Kanun, grave No 29. Following the war on 9th February 1946, he was exhumed and his body moved to the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Don Rak, Kanchanaburi, Thailand and reburied in plot 2.P.70.
Harold is also remembered on the Prisoner of War Garden of Remembrance Memorial, Mutton Lane, Potters Bar and was posthumously awarded the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star and War Medal 1939-45, which were sent to his father. In 1946 Probate was also granted to Harold’s Father.
The 1921 census shows the family living at Turholme Gt North Road, Potters Bar, Middlesex and following his education Harold became a Commercial Traveller and in 1939 was still with his parents at 69 Hatfield Road, Potter Bar.
Following the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Harold was called up and enlisted into the 5th Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment with service number 5775829, later being promoted to Lance Corporal. The 5th and 6th (City of Norwich) Battalions were both assigned to the 53rd Infantry Brigade and the 4th Battalion the 54th Infantry Brigade. Both brigades were part of the 18th Infantry Division. Throughout most of their existence, all three battalions remained in the United Kingdom assigned to coastal defence duties and training to repel a German invasion. In October 1941 however, the division left, destined for the Middle East and fought in the defence of Singapore and Malaya against the Japanese advance. The men of these battalions, and other East Anglian battalions of other regiments, ended up as prisoners of war when Singapore fell on 15th February 1942. On this day Harold was taken as a prisoner of war.
He remained in Singapore until the 15th March 1943 when he was shipped overland by train to Thailand where he was forced to work on the infamous Burma Railway at Tha Kanun, in Kanchanaburi Provence. Harold survived but two months longer and died of ‘Indigestion’ (known as refeeding syndrome, where sudden and potentially fatal heart failure occurred after prolonged starvation when prisoners began to eat again. This was not due to simple indigestion but was a complex medical condition caused by the severe metabolic imbalances resulting from malnutrition) on 15th May 1943, aged just 25 and was buried at Tha Kanun, grave No 29. Following the war on 9th February 1946, he was exhumed and his body moved to the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Don Rak, Kanchanaburi, Thailand and reburied in plot 2.P.70.
Harold is also remembered on the Prisoner of War Garden of Remembrance Memorial, Mutton Lane, Potters Bar and was posthumously awarded the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star and War Medal 1939-45, which were sent to his father. In 1946 Probate was also granted to Harold’s Father.
Harold Eke's Japanese Prisoner of War Record Card.
The Story The medals awarded to Harold Edward Eke, were won at Noonan’s Auction on 5 Nov 25, they were of immediate interest as the recipient had perished working on the Burma Railway and buried at Kanchanaburi Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Thailand, a sub-theme of this collection.
Ancestry enabled a brief biography to be pieced together and Harold’s grave was visited and a poppy cross placed on sunday 28th December 2025.
Ancestry enabled a brief biography to be pieced together and Harold’s grave was visited and a poppy cross placed on sunday 28th December 2025.
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Harold Eke's Medal Index Card, Posthumous Award Certificate, ticker tape and box of award addressed to his father.
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Prisoner of War Garden of Remembrance Memorial, Mutton Lane, Potters Bar
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Don Rak Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, Kanchanaburi. Sunday 28th December 2025
Harold Edward EKE is one of 26 soldiers in this collection who perished whilst working on the Burma Railaway and whose final resting place is Kanchanaburi or Chungkai Commonwealth War Cemeteries in Thailand or Thanbyuzayat in Myanmar.
May their souls rest in eternal peace. Click on each name to read about:
May their souls rest in eternal peace. Click on each name to read about:
- John AXON
- Thomas BURNS
- William James Johnstone BYERS
- Percy Denis CORNWELL
- Walter Richard COLBERT
- Joseph DUCKWORTH
- Kenneth Robert EYLAND
- Charles Nevil Worton FOX
- Denys John HYDE
- George Sidney JOHNSON
- Charles Roger LLOYD
- Stanley Richard LOVEDAY
- Myles McMANUS
- Raymond Ernest MADGETT
- Alfred Arthur MANNING
- John MARKS
- Horace Edgar MAXWELL
- James Gordon MITCHELL
- Edward John PHILLIPS
- George Edward RUDDICK
- Kenneth William SHIPP
- Harold Norman SPALDING
- Alfred Henry STEVENS
- Walter Leonard TAYLOR
- Henry Garnsey VEITCH
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: unnamed as awarded.
- Pacific Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
This page last updated 1 Jan 26
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