ROBERT JOSEPH UNGLESS
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Born: 25th March 1918, West Ham, Essex.
Baptised: 7th April 1918, at St. Mary Magdalene Church, East Ham, Essex.
Died: 18th June 1942; Age 24; died as a Japanese POW of Peritonitis following a perforated appendix operation at Changi Prison, Changi, Singapore. The first man of the 196 Field Ambulance to die.
Captured at Changi on the 15th February 1942 – the Fall of Singapore.
Residence: 25, Alan Road, Ipswich.
Occupation: a House Decorator.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 7368909.
Regiment: Royal Army Medical Corps, 196 Field Ambulance.
The body was originally buried in grave B-D-10, at Changi Cemetery. On the 23rd April 1946, the body was exhumed, identified and reburied at Kranji War Cemetery.
Grave Reference:
9.C.11.
Singapore.
A photograph taken in the prison camp of Robert’s funeral.
Relatives Notified & Address: Henry Samuel & Kate Lilian Beatrice Ungless, of Ipswich.
Kate & Henry Ungless.
Father: Henry Samuel Ungless, born July 1875, Ipswich. A Master Builder – own account.
Mother: Kate Lilian Beatrice Ungless (nee Woods), born August 1889, West Ham, Essex.
Henry & Kate Ungless with Robert and their grandchildren.
Robert with his sisters Olive & Dorothy.
ENGLAND & WALES REGISTER 1939
Robert was a Decorator and House repairer. He lived with his parents, sister and widowed, paternal grandfather at their family home – 25, Alan Road, Ipswich.
Henry, a Master Builder.
Kate, unpaid Domestic Duties.
Dorothy May Ungless, born April 1920, West Ham.
Henry Robert Ungless, a Plumber, born January 1852, Ipswich.
A family note:
I wasn’t born till 1946 so sadly i never met Robert (Uncle Bob) my two older sisters were young so I know him through them and my Mum name Olive, Roberts oldest sister.
I remember him only by asking my mum who was in the photo on the wall. Audrey who was 5 remembers it well when they hugged him goodbye, he said to her will make you a Dolls house when I come back sadly he didn’t. I have put some photos of Kate nee Wood and Henry S Ungless, Olive Robert and Dorothy when they were young in West Ham where they lived till Henry returned to Ipswich where he was born.
Jeanette Mann
A page from an autograph book written by Robert.
Probate to Henry Samuel Ungless – father. A builder.
Robert is also remembered on Holy Trinity church memorial, Ipswich.
Family photographs courtesy of Jeanette Mann.
Photograph courtesy of Ron Taylor – http://www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/u/html/ungless-robert-joseph.htm
Robert’s portrait and profile will be displayed at a V.J. Day exhibition, “Be Ye Men of Valour,” from Saturday, 9th August to Monday, 25th August (Bank Holiday) 2025, at St. Margaret’s Church, Ipswich, IP4 2BT.
2 Comments
Just to say his name was Robert Joseph Ungless, my Uncle Bob.
My Mum was Betty Ungless, born 1926, daughter of Robert Henry Ungless born 1896 (?). Robert(Bob) was born in Ipswich and moved to London (Tooting). He also fought in the first WW.