Charles Highland (1911 - 1942)

Born 12 Feb 1911 in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia

Ancestors

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 31 in At Sea

Biography

Charles Highland was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Charles Highland died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Charles Highland was born in 1911 in Bundaberg, QLD. Son of Frederick Highland and Selena Spence, of Bundaberg, Queensland.

In 1926 he won a Junior Scholarship to the Queensland Agricultural College and High School at Gatton, QLD to study farming.^[1] In 1929 he qualified for the Junior Public Service Certificate and an Agricultural Certificate. ^[2]

He enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service at Cairns, QLD on 09 Jul 1940, a few days after his older brother Robert also enlisted (at Maryborough). They served in differnt units. At the time he was single (Married crossed out), a labourer and he gave as his address his father's place at Yandaran, via Bundaberg. He had fair hair and blue eyes.

After training he was transferred to No. 1 Independent Coy (a commando unit) on 10 May 1941.

He embarked on HMAT "Zealandia" on 12 Jul 1941 for Kavieng, New Ireland in the Territory of New Guinea, disembarking there on 29 Jul 1941.

On 06 Nov 1941 he was classified as a Cook Group II

When the Japanese invaded New Ireland on 23 Jan 1942 he was probably with the bulk of the Coy who escaped overland to Kaut on the south coast and boarded the "Induna Star" on 29 Jan 1942 before making their way along the coast of New Ireland heading to Rabaul. When they learned that Rabaul had fallen and hearing that the Japanese had landed to the east of them (false) the ship sailed south. It was spotted by a Japanese aircraft, bombed and taken under tow by a Japanese destroyer on 02 Feb 1942 and entered Rabaul on 03 Feb 1942 where he became a Prisoner of War, initially held at Rabaul.

He died on board the "Montevideo Maru" when it was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of the Philippines on 01 Jul 1942, en route from Rabaul to Hainan where he was destined for forced labour.

Sources

1. ↑ FUTURE FARMERS (1926, January 22). The Week (Brisbane, Qld. : 1876 - 1934), p. 5. Retrieved February 19, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article181447767
2. ↑ THE UNIVERSITY. (1929, January 12). Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette (Qld. : 1922 - 1933), p. 7. Retrieved February 19, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article254058921

• Birth - QLD BDM Birth index - Charles Highland; Event date: 12/02/1911; Event type: Birth registration; Registration details: 1911/C/563; Mother: Selina Upton Spence; Father/parent: Frederick Highland

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - HIGHLAND CHARLES : Service Number - QX15058 : Date of birth - 12 Feb 1911 : Place of birth - BUNDABERG QLD : Place of enlistment - CAIRNS QLD : Next of Kin - HIGHLAND FREDERICK - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=4493707

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1690303

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2615791/charles-highland/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/632151

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial: https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/highland-charles/