Basil Andrew (Ah Chow) Andrew (1916 - 1942)

Born 1916 in Orbost, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Died 1 Jul 1942 at about age 26 in At Sea

Biography

Basil (Ah Chow) Andrew was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Basil (Ah Chow) Andrew died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Basil Andrew Ah Chow was born in 1916 at Orbost, Victoria, Australia, the son of Andrew William Ah Chow and Clarice May (Healy) Ah Chow. His birth was registered in Bairnsdale, Victoria.^[1]

As Basil Andrew, He enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service at Royal Park, Melbourne, VIC on 25 Jun 1940 as a Private (VX34318). At the time he was single (married is crossed out), a transport truck driver and gave his home address as living with his father in Orbost. He had black 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.

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. ↑ Birth record: 339 / 1916. BDM Victoria. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history.
   (Name: Basil Andw AH CHOW); (Place: BDALE, VIC); (Mother: Clarice Mary HEALY); (Father: Andw Wm)

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - ANDREW BASIL : Service Number - VX34318 : Date of birth - 17 Feb 1916 : Place of birth - ORBOST VIC : Place of enlistment - ROYAL PARK VIC : Next of Kin - ANDREW ANDREW - https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=6128908&isAv=N

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1709770

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2615318/andrew,-basil/

See also:

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/618193
• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial (https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/ : accessed 7 Mar 2024) database entry for Basil Andrew