Kenneth Hutchinson
Date of birth: 16/04/1930
Date of death: 02/10/1948
Area: Ferrybridge Knottingley
Regiment: Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Family information: Son of Tom and Lily Hutchinson nee Stather
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service number: 21127814
War Service
Kenneth Hutchinson served in 2nd Battalion KOYLI Regiment and was killed 2 October 1948 aged 18. He is commemorated at Batu Gajah War Cemetery, Malaya - Gods Little Acre, grave number 935.
The Malayan National Liberation Party, an armed wing of the Malayan Communist Party, began attacking the rubber plantations, tin mines and police stations, derailing trains and burning workers houses. In June 1948 a State of Emergency was declared. The guerilla tactics which were employed were jungle based in an attempt to become a Communist Republic. Hutchinson and three others were ambushed by insurgents and killed whilst bathing. One was an Officer Captain D G Cook of the Somerset Light Infantry attached to KOYLI Regiment.
Pontefract & Castleford Express 8 October 1948 p4
“KILLED WHILST BATHING
One of four soldiers who were shot dead while bathing in a pool near Bidor, Perak, Malaya, on Saturday was Lance Corporal Kenneth Hutchinson whose home address was Pinders Garth, Ferrybridge. He was only 18 and had been in the army 11 months after joining for 12 years. His father Mr Tom Hutchinson told the Express that Kenneth had never been able to think of any other career but the army and was extremely keen. He added that the Officers had described him as a youth of great promise who would do extremely well. L/Cpl Hutchinson joined the Army Cadet Force in January 1945 and rose to the rank of Sergeant. When he went to the Pontefract Company he attained the rank of Company Sergeant Major. He sailed for Malaya with the 2nd Battalion KOYLI in April and had his 18th birthday on the boat. In a letter home last month he described how he had participated in the capture of a communist arms dump, and in raids, and how he was helping to instruct Planters employees.”
In the Roll of Honour in the same paper: “On 2nd October 1948 in Malaya L/Cpl Kenneth Hutchinson aged 18 years dearly loved son of Lily and Tom Hutchinson, and beloved brother of Barbara & Derek of 1 Pinders Garth Ferrybridge.”
Family Life
Kenneth was born on 16th April 1930, the son of Tom Hutchinson and Lily nee Stather of 1, Pinders Garth, Ferrybridge. They married in the fourth quarter of 1925 at Fairburn in the Parish of Ledsham.
Batu Gajah War Cemetery
