Signalman Alfred Arthur Manning Royal Signals
Alfred Arthur Manning
The Man Alfred Arthur Manning (Fred) was born on Friday 21st August 1908 in Bromley, Kent son of Alfred William an Ironmonger’s Shop Assistant and Florence Amelia nee Austen, he had one sister Joan Mary born on 2nd October 1911.
The 1911 census shows the family living at 1 Sydney Place, Chislehurst, Kent and in 1911 at 11 Leslie Road, Finchley with a boarder, Ann Elizabeth Danton, although Fred, his mother and sister are shown visiting relatives at 4 Poona Road, Tunbridge Wells.
Following his education and aged 16 Fred joined the London Postal Service (North-West) in July 1925, as a Counter Clerk and Telegraphist, his appointment appearing in the London Gazette of 5th January 1926. By 1935 the family were still at 11 Leslie Road and on Saturday 28th March 1936 Fred married Emily Edith Mitchell (Edie), in St George The Martyr Church, Southwark, the bans having previously been read on 23rd February, 1st and 8th March. They lived at 7 Glassbrook Avenue, Twickenham and had one son David A born on 15th January 1937.
By the time of the 1939 Register, the entire family were living at 18 Hereford Avenue, East Barnett, although Edie was later shown as living at 25 Oak Bank Grove, Herne Hill. Shortly after the start of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Fred received his call up and enlisted into the Royal Corps of Signals as a Signaler with service number 2365663. He was posted to Singapore, attached to the Indian Signal Corps, playing a crucial role maintaining communication lines, infrastructure and defence of the island despite the challenges of combat. When Singapore surrendered on 15th February 1942, Fred was taken as a Prisoner of War of the Japanese.
He was shipped, most likely overland to Thailand and forced to work on the notorious Burma Railway, together with many other PoWs. He did manage to write two postcards to Edie, one a little more detailed than the other. His parents did write numerous letters and cards to Fred, but sadly these never reached him and were returned to the senders.
Fred succumbed to the harsh treatment meted out by the Japanese and died in captivity of Bronchitis on 31st May 1943 aged 34 and buried at his camp and later at Chungkai Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, Thailand in plot 12.D.1. He was posthumously awarded his 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star and War Medal 1939-45, these being sent to Edie at 96 Byne Road, Sydenham.
Edie was awarded a gratuity by the Post Office and an illuminated scroll recognising Fred’s passing. She remarried in 1951 to Leonard T Clark and died on 2nd April 1985 in Eastbourne and David in October 2022 also at Eastbourne.
The 1911 census shows the family living at 1 Sydney Place, Chislehurst, Kent and in 1911 at 11 Leslie Road, Finchley with a boarder, Ann Elizabeth Danton, although Fred, his mother and sister are shown visiting relatives at 4 Poona Road, Tunbridge Wells.
Following his education and aged 16 Fred joined the London Postal Service (North-West) in July 1925, as a Counter Clerk and Telegraphist, his appointment appearing in the London Gazette of 5th January 1926. By 1935 the family were still at 11 Leslie Road and on Saturday 28th March 1936 Fred married Emily Edith Mitchell (Edie), in St George The Martyr Church, Southwark, the bans having previously been read on 23rd February, 1st and 8th March. They lived at 7 Glassbrook Avenue, Twickenham and had one son David A born on 15th January 1937.
By the time of the 1939 Register, the entire family were living at 18 Hereford Avenue, East Barnett, although Edie was later shown as living at 25 Oak Bank Grove, Herne Hill. Shortly after the start of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Fred received his call up and enlisted into the Royal Corps of Signals as a Signaler with service number 2365663. He was posted to Singapore, attached to the Indian Signal Corps, playing a crucial role maintaining communication lines, infrastructure and defence of the island despite the challenges of combat. When Singapore surrendered on 15th February 1942, Fred was taken as a Prisoner of War of the Japanese.
He was shipped, most likely overland to Thailand and forced to work on the notorious Burma Railway, together with many other PoWs. He did manage to write two postcards to Edie, one a little more detailed than the other. His parents did write numerous letters and cards to Fred, but sadly these never reached him and were returned to the senders.
Fred succumbed to the harsh treatment meted out by the Japanese and died in captivity of Bronchitis on 31st May 1943 aged 34 and buried at his camp and later at Chungkai Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, Thailand in plot 12.D.1. He was posthumously awarded his 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star and War Medal 1939-45, these being sent to Edie at 96 Byne Road, Sydenham.
Edie was awarded a gratuity by the Post Office and an illuminated scroll recognising Fred’s passing. She remarried in 1951 to Leonard T Clark and died on 2nd April 1985 in Eastbourne and David in October 2022 also at Eastbourne.
1939-45 Star. Pacific Star. War Medal 1939-45.
The Story The medals awarded to Alfred Arthur Manning were acquired from Eastbourne Auctions, via The Saleroom on 27th May 2025.
The group were of interest as the recipient had died working on the Burma Railway and buried at Chungkai Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, Kanchanaburi, a sub-theme of this collection.
With the group came a large archive of material, including photographs, illuminated scrolls, medal box of award and postcards written by Frederick whilst a Prisoner of War and by his family to him, although these were never delivered, too many in fact to display.
Another poignant lot to a poor soul who died under inhumane circumstances.
The archive of material and Ancestry enabled a reasonable biography to be pieced together of his relatively short life and his grave was visited at Chungkai on 20th July 2025 and a Poppy Cross placed, something one imagines, his family were never able to do.
The group were of interest as the recipient had died working on the Burma Railway and buried at Chungkai Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, Kanchanaburi, a sub-theme of this collection.
With the group came a large archive of material, including photographs, illuminated scrolls, medal box of award and postcards written by Frederick whilst a Prisoner of War and by his family to him, although these were never delivered, too many in fact to display.
Another poignant lot to a poor soul who died under inhumane circumstances.
The archive of material and Ancestry enabled a reasonable biography to be pieced together of his relatively short life and his grave was visited at Chungkai on 20th July 2025 and a Poppy Cross placed, something one imagines, his family were never able to do.
Fred's marriage to Edie Saturday 28th March 1936.
Japanese PoW Record Card
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Fred's original wooden cross at Chungkai CWG Cemetery.
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Chungkai Commonwealth War Grave Cemtery, Kanchanaburi, Thailand. 20th July 2025.
Alfred Arthur MANNING 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:
- John AXON
- Thomas BURNS
- William James Johnstone BYERS
- Walter Richard COLBERT
- Percy Denis CORNWELL
- Joseph DUCKWORTH
- Harold Edward EKE
- Kenneth Robert EYLAND
- Charles Nevil Worton FOX
- Denys John HYDE
- George Sidney JOHNSON
- Charles Roger LLOYD
- Stanley Richard LOVEDAY
- Myles McMANUS
- Raymond Ernest MADGETT
- 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.
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This page last updated 21 Jul 25
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