Richard Henry Bromilow (1915 - 1942)

Born 21 Oct 1915 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 26 in At Sea

Biography

Richard Bromilow was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Richard Bromilow died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Richard Henry Bromilow was born in Geelong, Victoria, in 1915. He was the the son of Henry (Harry) Matthew and Winifred Stella Mary Elizabeth Bromilow.^[1]

He enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service at Caulfield, VIC on 09 Aug 1940 as a Private (VX48425). At the time he was single, a transport driver and he living with his father at Geelong West, VIC. He had dark brown hair and blue eyes.

He was initially posted to 2/23rd Bn Reinforcements, but after training he was transferred to No. 1 Independent Coy (a commando unit) on 10 May 1941.

He embarked on HMAT "Zealandia" on 12 Jul 1941 for Kavieng, New Ireland in the Territory of New Guinea, disembarking there on 29 Jul 1941.

When the Japanese invaded New Ireland on 23 Jan 1942 he was probably with the bulk of the Coy who escaped overland to Kaut on the south coast and boarded the "Induna Star" on 29 Jan 1942 before making their way along the coast of New Ireland heading to Rabaul. When they learned that Rabaul had fallen and hearing that the Japanese had landed to the east of them (false) the ship sailed south. It was spotted by a Japanese aircraft, bombed and taken under tow by a Japanese destroyer on 02 Feb 1942 and entered Rabaul on 03 Feb 1942 where he became a Prisoner of War, initially held at Rabaul.

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 record: Reg. number 30754/1915. Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria - Family History Search (https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history)
   (Family name: BROMILOW); (Given Names: Richd Hy); (Mother's names: Wfred Stella Mary Eliza); (Mother's family name at birth: DEAN); (Father's names: Hy Matthew); (Place of birth: GEELONG); (Reg year: 1915)

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - BROMILOW RICHARD HENRY : Service Number - VX48425 : Date of birth - 21 Oct 1915 : Place of birth - GEELONG VIC : Place of enlistment - CAULFIELD VIC : Next of Kin - BROMILOW HARRY - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6130807

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1695764

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2615419/bromilow,-richard-henry/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/621175

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/bromilow-richard-henry/

Acknowledgement

WikiTree profile Bromilow-14 created through the import of Adriane`s Family Tree 2012.ged on Oct 12, 2012 by Adriane Millner. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Adriane and others.