Norman William Berwick (1921 - 1942)

Born 9 May 1921 in Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 21 in At Sea

Biography

Norman Berwick was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Norman Berwick died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Norman claimed he was born in 1919 at Moonee Ponds, VIC., but was actually born in 1921^[1]. He probably raised his age in order to enlist in the Australian Army. He was the son of William Clarke Berwick and Ada Hewat of Moonee Ponds.

He enlisted in the Australian Army (Militia) on 15 Feb 1938 at Moonee Ponds as a Private (327345) in the 58th Bn. He was single, a cabinet maker and living with father in Moonee Ponds. He 6 ft 3 in tall, with black hair and brown eyes. He was probably in the Machine Gun Regt.

On 04 Jun 1940 at Royal Park, VIC he enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service as a Private (VX30069). He was posted to 2/22nd Bn on 17 Jul 1940.

On 12 Mar 1941 he embarked at Sydney on HMAT "Katoomba" for Rabaul, New Britain in the Territory of New Guinea, disembarking there on 28 Mar 1941.

He was promoted Lance Cpl on 25 Sep 1941

When the Japanese invaded New Britain on 23 Jan 1942 he was captured on the Lassul Bay coast and became a Prisoner of War, held initially at Rabaul. Japanese records have him as an driver and part of Headquarters. He died on board the "Montevideo Maru" when it was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of the Philippines en route from Rabaul to Hainan where he was destined for forced labour.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth, Deaths and Marriages, Victoria Online Registry. Event: births; Registration number 12242 / 1921; Family name: BERWICK; Given name(s) Norman Wm; Place of event: ESSENDON, VIC, Australia; Mother's name Ada HEWAT; Father's Name: Wm. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history

• Australian Army (Militia) Service File - National Archives of Australia - Berwick, Norman William; Army Number - 327345; Date of birth - 09 May 1919 - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=9264273

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - BERWICK NORMAN WILLIAM : Service Number - VX30069 : Date of birth - 09 May 1919 : Place of birth - MOONEE PONDS VIC : Place of enlistment - ROYAL PARK VIC : Next of Kin - BERWICK ADA - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6207905

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1681393

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2615383/norman-william-berwick/

• In Memoriam, Roll of Honour, On Active Service - Family Notices (1946, July 1). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 15. Retrieved January 6, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22331319

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/619918

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/berwick-norman-william/