Alexander Francis Bollman (1919 - 1942)

Born 11 Mar 1919 in Maryborough, Queensland, Australia

Ancestors

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 23 in At Sea

Biography

Alexander Bollman was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Alexander Bollman died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Alexander Bollman is one of twins.

Alexander Francis Bollman was born on 11 March 1919 in Maryborough, QLD. His parents were Norman Alexander Bollman and Grace Eva Margaret Smith.

He enlisted in the Australian Army on 06 Jun 1940 in Brisbane, QLD as a Private (Q194676) in the Australian Army Ordnance Corps (AAOC). At the time he was single, a living with his parents in Albion, QLD. He was 5 ft 6 & 1/4 in tall with brown hair and hazel eyes. It appears he had prior service in the 2nd AIF as QX4228, but he did not declare this on his enlistment.

Initially he was allocated to the AAOC Brisbane workshops as Mechanic M.T. Grade II. On 14 Mar 1941 he embarked on HMAT "Katoomba" for Rabaul in the Territory of New Guinea as part of Lark Force, disembarking there on 28 Mar 1941. He was promoted Cpl on 25 Jul 1941.

When the Japanese invaded New Britain in Jan 1942 he was captured at Keravat and became a Prisoner of War, initially held at Rabaul. Japanese records indicate he had been 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.

He was posthumously transferred to the AIF as QX64940.

Sources

• Birth - Queensland BDM Birth index - Alexander Francis Bollman; Event date: 11/03/1919; Event type: Birth registration; Registration details: 1919/C/2370; Mother: Grace Eva Margaret Smith; Father/parent: Norman Alexander Bollman

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - BOLLMAN ALEXANDER FRANCIS : Service Number - QX4228 : Date of birth - 11 Mar 1919 : Place of birth - MARYBOROUGH QLD : Place of enlistment - BRISBANE QLD : Next of Kin - BOLLMAN NORMAN (paper file); Item Barcode: 4248621

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - BOLLMAN ALEXANDER FRANCIS : Service Number - QX64940 : Date of birth - 11 Mar 1919 : Place of birth - MARYBOROUGH QLD : Place of enlistment - BRISBANE QLD : Next of Kin - BOLLMAN NORMAN - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=4481377

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1700585

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2615401/alexander-francis-bollman/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/620446

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/bollman-alexander-francis/