Reginald John Bennett (abt. 1916 - 1942)

Born about 27 Jul 1916 in Kew, Victoria, Australia [uncertain]

Husband of Madge (Mollenoyux) Gibbs — married 27 Oct 1937 in Camperdown, Victoria, Australia

Died 1 Jul 1942 at about age 25 in At Sea

Biography

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

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

Reginald was apparently born at Kew, Victoria in 1916, the son of Ernest George Bennett and Julia Spenser. No birth registration for him has been found,

He was married to Madge Irene MOLLENOYUX on 27 October 1937 in Camperdown, Victoria, Australia^[1].

He enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service at Caulfield, VIC on 08 Jun 1940 as a Private (VX24153), having completed his attestation form at Hamilton, VIC on 29 May 1940. At the time he was married, a general labourer and was living with his wife in Hamilton, VIC.

He was posted to 2/22nd Bn at Puckapunyal, VIC on 15 Jul 1940.

He entrained from Victoria for Sydney on 10 Apr 1941, embarking there on 12 Apr 1941 for Rabaul, New Britain in the Territory of New Guinea and disembarking there on 26 Apr 1941. His Battalion was to form the core of "Lark Force" for the defence of the Territory.

After the Japanese invasion of 23 Jan 1942 he was captured at the Warangoi River and became a Prisoner of War initially held at Rabaul. Japanese records have him as a member of A Coy.

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, Deaths and Marriages, Victoria Online Registry. Event: marriages; Registration number 15356 / 1937; Family name: BENNETT; Given name(s) Reymold Jno; Spouse's family name: MOLYNEAUX; Spouse's given name(s) Madge Irene. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - BENNETT REGINALD JOHN : Service Number - VX24153 : Date of birth - 27 Jul 1916 : Place of birth - KEW VIC : Place of enlistment - CAULFIELD VIC : Next of Kin - BENNETT MADGE - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6226851

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1684587

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2615374/bennett,-reginald-john/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/619793

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/bennett-reginald-john/