A PETERSFIELD serviceman who died in Singapore during the Second World War has been remembered during a visit to the island.

Royal Air Force (RAF) Aircraftsman Ernest Finn died on January 3, 1945, seven months before fighting in the Far East ended, and he was buried at Kranji Military cemetery on the island.

His parents, John and Emily Finn, ran Finlays newsagents off The Square in the town centre, and never knew how their son, then aged 28, died.

Last month, Petersfield Royal British Legion secretary, and former RAF veteran, David Lloyd – of Highfield Road – visited the island to try and discover more about how Ernest died.

Mr Lloyd said: “He was in a prisoner of war camp, and the only lead we have is there may have been a bombing raid on Singapore by the allies, and he could have tragically died in that raid.

“But something happened that day, and while I was there, I asked the national archive in Singapore to see if they held any records for that day, and I’m also searching the archive of The Straits Times newspaper.”

While he was there, Mr Lloyd (76) visited Ernest’s grave and laid a Poppy Cross in his memory.

He added: “The search to solve the mystery of his death is very much alive.”