Nelson Albert Barry (1918 - 1942)

Born 11 Nov 1918 in Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 23 in At Sea

Biography

Albert Barry was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Albert Barry died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Nelson was born about 1918 at Wonthaggi, VIC, the son of Nils Henry and Jessie Beatrice Barry. He was known as Albert or Mick.

He enlisted in the Australian Army at Caulfield, VIC on 26 Jul 1940 as a Private (VX48429). At the time he was single, a textile worker and was living at Chilwell, VIC (part of Geelong). He had dark hair and brown eyes.

After time in training units he was posted to the 23rd Anti Tank Brigade, Royal Australian Artillery at Bonegilla, VIC on 11 Feb 1941 as a Gunner.

On 09 Aug 1941 he was transferred to 17 Anti Tank Bty at Holsworthy, NSW and embarked on the "Zealandia" at Sydney on 09 Sep 1941 for Rabaul, New Britain in the Territory of New Guinea, disembarking there on 30 Sep 1941. His unit became part of "Lark Force" to defend the Territory.

After the Japanese invasion on 23 Jan 1942 he was captured Gasmata several weeks later and became a Prisoner of War, initially held at Rabaul. Japanese records have him as a Driver.

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

• Birth - Victoria BDM Birth index - Registration number: 7683 / 1918; Family name: BARRY; Given name(s): Nelson Albt; Place of event: WONTHAGGI, VIC, Australia; Personal detail Mother's name: Jessie Beatrice; Mother's family name at birth: DUNN; Father's Name: Nils Hy

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - BARRY ALBERT NELSEN : Service Number - VX48429 : Date of birth - 11 Nov 1917 : Place of birth - WONTHAGGI VIC : Place of enlistment - CAULFIELD VIC : Next of Kin - BARRY N - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6130803

• In Memoriam On Active Service - (look under P) - Family Notices (1948, July 3). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 8. Retrieved June 14, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206897078

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1688730

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2615352/barry,-albert-nelson/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/619195

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/barry-albert-nelsen/