James Albert Barber (1907 - 1942)

Born 18 Sep 1907 in London, England, United Kingdom

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 34 in At Sea

Biography

James Barber was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

James Barber died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

James Albert Barber was born on 18 September 1907 in London, England.

On 19 June 1940 he enlisted in the Australian Army at Hown Hall, Melbourne, Australia as a Private (VX41564). At the time he was married (to Elizabeth Marjorie) and living at Beaumauris, Victoria. He was a salesman.

He was allocated to the 2/22nd Bn. He was promoted L/Cpl on 14 October 1940 and to A/Cpl on 06 November 1940. He disembarked at Rabaul in the Territory of New Guinea on 26 April 1941 and was promoted L/Sgt on 16 August 1941. He was promoted A/Sgt on 21 October 1941.

When the Japanese invaded New Britain in January 1942 he was captured near Warangoi River and became a Prisoner of War. 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

• WW2 Australian Army Service record - National Archives of Australia - BARBER JAMES ALBERT : Service Number - VX41564 : Date of birth - 18 Sep 1907 : Place of birth - LONDON ENGLAND : Place of enlistment - CAULFIELD VIC : Next of Kin - BARBER ELIZABETH - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6128415

• Roll of Honour - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1706774

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2615342/james-albert-barber/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/618985

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