Reginald George Anderson (abt. 1921 - 1942)

Born about 12 Sep 1921 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia

Ancestors

Died 1 Jul 1942 at about age 20 in At Sea

Biography

Reginald Anderson was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Reginald Anderson died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Reginald George Anderson claimed he was born in 1920 in Launceston, TAS, the son of Roderick George Anderson and Essie Marion Murfett. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has him aged 19 at time of death in 1942 and Japanese records have him aged 20, so he was probably born in 1922 or later.

He enlisted in the Australian Army Militia at Launceston, TAS on 25 Feb 1941 for war service as a Gunner (T44227) in the Royal Australian Artillery Special Force Tropical Service. At the time he was single, a timber worker and was living at Launceston, TAS with his father. He had brown hair and blue eyes.

He marched out to Queenscliff, VIC on 04 Mar 1941, joining the "L" Force Heavy Battery there.

He embarked on the "Zealandia" in Sydney on 18 Apr 1941 for Rabaul, New Britain in the Territory of New Guinea, disembarking there on 26 Apr 1941 as part of "Lark Force" Royal Australian Artillery, Rabaul Heavy Battery, protecting the harbour.

The battery was destroyed by Japanese bombing ahead of the invasion on 23 Jan 1942.

He was captured after the invasion at Keravat and became a Prisoner of War, initially held at Rabaul.

He was among those who were able to write a carefully scripted latter to next of kin advising that he was a POW. The letters were dropped from a Japanese plane over Port Moresby, Papua.^[1]

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.

He was posthumously enrolled in the 2nd AIF as TX5218.

Sources

1. ↑ Red Cross POW Enquiry cards - https://gallery.its.unimelb.edu.au/imu/imu.php?request=multimedia&irn=25203

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - ANDERSON REGINALD GEORGE : Service Number - TX5218 : Date of birth - 12 Sep 1920 : Place of birth - LAUNCESTON TAS : Place of enlistment - LAUNCESTON TAS : Next of Kin - ANDERSON - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6385371

• Thanks (for condolences) - Family Notices (1945, November 24). Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved May 16, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91952071

• In Memoriam On Active Service - Family Notices (1947, July 1). Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), p. 6. Retrieved May 16, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52595233

• 1942 'WAR CASUALTIES', Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), 27 August, p. 4. (LATE NEWS EDITION), viewed 28 Dec 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91499172

• 1950 'Family Notices', Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), 1 July, p. 5. (The Examiner MAGAZINE SECTION), viewed 28 Dec 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52777546

• 1953 'Family Notices', Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), 1 July, p. 11. , viewed 28 Dec 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61096773

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1691773

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2615317/anderson,-reginald-george/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/618155

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial (https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/ : accessed 7 Mar 2024) database entry for Reginald George Anderson