Gunner Alfred Robert Kitchener Underwood Royal Artillery
Alfred Robert Kichener Underwood
The Man Alfred Robert Kitchener Underwood (Alf) was born on Saturday 26th December 1914 at 116 Fern Street, Poplar, London. Son of Robert Frederick a serving Soldier and later a Labourer and Alice Lydia Mary nee Gazley he was one of five children Edwin William George born 1906, Alice Lydia Eileen 1st April 1920 – 2009 and two other siblings who died shortly after their birth.
Alf was Baptised at St Paul’s Church, Bow Common on 24th January and by 1921the family were living at 112 Fern Street, Poplar, moving shortly afterwards away from London to 1 Josephine Avenue, Lower Kingswood, Surrey.
Following his education at the Village School, Alf became an apprentice book binding machinist at the Windmill Press in Kingswood, he also sang in the Wisdom of God church choir, was very musical and played the piano.
During the third quarter of 1938 he married Irene Eva Augusta Piper in Surrey. They had one daughter Molly who was born in July 1939. The 1939 Register shows them living with Irene’s parents at Avalon Garage, Woodland Way, Banstead and later at 46 Matlock Avenue, Cheam, Surrey.
Following the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Alf voluntarily enlisted into the 125 Anti-Tank Regiment of the Royal Artillery as a Gunner with service number 1558270.
125 (Northumbrian) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) was converted from 125 Field Regiment in July 1940, with four batteries. On 28th October 1941 they embarked S.S. Oronsay at Avonmouth, arriving at Halifax, Nova Scotia on 8th November, transferring to the US troopship Dickman and arriving in Bombay on 27th December via Trinidad and Capetown.
Alf was Baptised at St Paul’s Church, Bow Common on 24th January and by 1921the family were living at 112 Fern Street, Poplar, moving shortly afterwards away from London to 1 Josephine Avenue, Lower Kingswood, Surrey.
Following his education at the Village School, Alf became an apprentice book binding machinist at the Windmill Press in Kingswood, he also sang in the Wisdom of God church choir, was very musical and played the piano.
During the third quarter of 1938 he married Irene Eva Augusta Piper in Surrey. They had one daughter Molly who was born in July 1939. The 1939 Register shows them living with Irene’s parents at Avalon Garage, Woodland Way, Banstead and later at 46 Matlock Avenue, Cheam, Surrey.
Following the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Alf voluntarily enlisted into the 125 Anti-Tank Regiment of the Royal Artillery as a Gunner with service number 1558270.
125 (Northumbrian) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) was converted from 125 Field Regiment in July 1940, with four batteries. On 28th October 1941 they embarked S.S. Oronsay at Avonmouth, arriving at Halifax, Nova Scotia on 8th November, transferring to the US troopship Dickman and arriving in Bombay on 27th December via Trinidad and Capetown.
1939-45 Star. Pacific Star. War Medal 1939-45.
In early February 1942 the regiment were sent to Malaya to assist with the defence of Singapore as part of the 18th Infantry Division, they were in the Empress of Asia when it was sunk near Singapore on 5 Feb 42. The survivors then fought as infantry but were all captured at the surrender of Singapore on 15th February 1942, although Alfred’s date of capture was given by the Japanese as 17th. On 29th October he was shipped overland by train to Thailand and forced to work on the infamous Burma Railway at Camp M3066.
Alf’s family heard nothing from him for the next 18 months, when to their relief the received a standard postcard in July 1943 saying he was safe and well and a Prisoner of War of the Japanese. The irony is that he was to perish only three months later on 6th October 1943 as a result of the inhuman treatment meted out by the Japanese, of Indigestion / Avitaminosis which was often a fatal case of toxic peritonitis, dysentery, or a starvation-related illness. He was aged 29.
Alf was buried at Chungkai Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery plot number 2.H.8 and posthumously awarded the 1939-45 Star, Pacific star and War Medal 1939-45, these being sent to Irene at 46 Matlock Road.
In 1946 probate was granted to his mother Alice, his effects amounting to £423.10s. Irene never remarried and died aged 90 in 2003 at Plymouth, never having visited her husband’s grave. However, following her death, Molly, who had never really known her father, arranged for her mother Irene’s ashes to be taken to Chungkai Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery by her and her daughter Laila, where they were interred with her 29-year-old husband, Alf. Molly was also given a cross and chain by her father before he went to war, she wore it every day for the rest of her life. Molly passed away in 2025 aged 86.
Alf is also remembered in the wisdom of God Church where there are two pillars names of all the men from the village who died in the first and second world wars. Every Saturday in his family would arrange flowers on Alf's pillar, other relatives of the fallen have their allotted months so there are always flowers on each pillar.
Alf’s family heard nothing from him for the next 18 months, when to their relief the received a standard postcard in July 1943 saying he was safe and well and a Prisoner of War of the Japanese. The irony is that he was to perish only three months later on 6th October 1943 as a result of the inhuman treatment meted out by the Japanese, of Indigestion / Avitaminosis which was often a fatal case of toxic peritonitis, dysentery, or a starvation-related illness. He was aged 29.
Alf was buried at Chungkai Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery plot number 2.H.8 and posthumously awarded the 1939-45 Star, Pacific star and War Medal 1939-45, these being sent to Irene at 46 Matlock Road.
In 1946 probate was granted to his mother Alice, his effects amounting to £423.10s. Irene never remarried and died aged 90 in 2003 at Plymouth, never having visited her husband’s grave. However, following her death, Molly, who had never really known her father, arranged for her mother Irene’s ashes to be taken to Chungkai Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery by her and her daughter Laila, where they were interred with her 29-year-old husband, Alf. Molly was also given a cross and chain by her father before he went to war, she wore it every day for the rest of her life. Molly passed away in 2025 aged 86.
Alf is also remembered in the wisdom of God Church where there are two pillars names of all the men from the village who died in the first and second world wars. Every Saturday in his family would arrange flowers on Alf's pillar, other relatives of the fallen have their allotted months so there are always flowers on each pillar.
Alfred Underwood's Prisoner of War Index Card
The Story The medals awarded to Alfred Robert Kitchener Underwood were acquired from E-Bay on 29th March 2026 and of immediate interest as Alfred had perished working on the Burma Railway in Thailand, a specific theme of this collection.
With the medals came their box of award, named to his wife Irene and the much sought after named medal award certificate. Ancestry provided sufficient detail for a brief biography to be completed enabling another soul who perished under horrendous circumstances to be remembered.
By a remarkable coincidence Alfred was buried next to Charles Roger LLOYD in grave 7 and William James Johnstone BYERS in grave 6, both of whom are in this collection!
May 2026, just a few weeks after their acquisition contact was made by Alfred Underwood’s niece, who added some poignant detail to his biography and kindly provided the all-important photograph of Alf to perpetuate his memory yet further.
Alf's grave was visited on Sunday 5th July 2026 and a poppy cross placed in memory of he and Irene.
With the medals came their box of award, named to his wife Irene and the much sought after named medal award certificate. Ancestry provided sufficient detail for a brief biography to be completed enabling another soul who perished under horrendous circumstances to be remembered.
By a remarkable coincidence Alfred was buried next to Charles Roger LLOYD in grave 7 and William James Johnstone BYERS in grave 6, both of whom are in this collection!
May 2026, just a few weeks after their acquisition contact was made by Alfred Underwood’s niece, who added some poignant detail to his biography and kindly provided the all-important photograph of Alf to perpetuate his memory yet further.
Alf's grave was visited on Sunday 5th July 2026 and a poppy cross placed in memory of he and Irene.
Alf's wedding to Irene 1938.
Medal Award Box addressed to Irene, Alfred's wife.
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Alfred Underwood's posthumous medal award certificate
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Chungkai Comonwealth War Grave Cemetery, Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Sunday 5th July 2026.
The three graves of William James Johnstone BYERS, Charles Roger LLOYD and Alfred Robert Kitchener UNDERWOOD.
Alfred Robert Kitchener UNDERWOOD is one of 35 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:
- Arthur AIRD
- Jonathan William ALLEN
- John AXON
- John Alan BRATT
- 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
- Henry LINDLEY
- Charles Roger LLOYD
- Stanley Richard LOVEDAY
- Myles McMANUS
- Raymond Ernest MADGETT
- Alexander MALCOLM
- 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
- Harwood Alfred TAYLOR
- Walter Leonard TAYLOR
- Douglas TRUMAN
- Henry Garnsey VEITCH
- Alan Kirtley WATSON
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Pacific Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
This page last updated 5 Jul 26
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