Thrandeston History Group

Herbert Alan LEEDER (1919 - 1943)

Herbert was born in 1919 in the Council Houses in Thrandeston to Herbert and Florence LEEDER.

It is not known when Herbert enlisted, but it is known that he was in the 5th Battalion Suffolk regiment.

Herbert was captured by the Japanese on 15 February 1942. There is an article in the Diss Express on 31 December 1943 which states that Herbert’s mother and father had received a card from their son to say that he was a prisoner of war in Japanese hands but was in good health. He had in fact died on 17 June 1943, but his parents didn’t know this until late 1945.

On 16 December 1945, an article appeared in the Diss Express which states that Mr and Mrs LEEDER had received news that their son Private H LEEDER had died of dysentry on 17 June 1943 while he was a prisoner of war.

Herbert was 23 when he died. He has a listing on the Commonwealth War Graves site. It is not known what medals Herbert would have been awarded as the medal record can only be applied for by the dead veterans official next of kin.

Herbert has a listing on the Commonwealth War Graves site and is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial in the Kranji Wara Cemetery in Singapore.

In Memory Of
Private
HERBERT ALLAN LEEDER
Service Number: 5828391
5th Bn., Suffolk Regiment who died on 17 June 1943 Age 23
Son of Herbert and Florence Leeder, of Thrandeston, Norfolk.
Remembered with Honour
SINGAPORE MEMORIAL
Column 55.

Singapore Memorial (CWGC)

On 25 November 1945, a memorial service was held for Herbert in Thrandeston Church.