Victor Brown (abt. 1920 - 1942)

Born about 17 Dec 1920 in Moorabbin, Victoria, Australia

Died 1 Jul 1942 at about age 21 in At Sea

Biography

Victor Brown was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Victor Brown died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Victor Brown was born at Moorabbin, VIC in 1920, the son of Harry James Richard Brown and Minnie Blanche Stanley.

He enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service at Caulfield, VIC on 16 Jul 1940 as a Private (VX46516). At the time he was single, a tailor and was living with his father at Moorabbin, VIC. He had dark hair and hazel eyes. He was already serving in the Militia in the 46th Bn (V39020) and had raised his age in order to enlist for overseas service.

He was posted to the 2/22nd Bn at Puckapunyal, VIC on 19 Jul 1940.

He spent the first 3 months of 1941 in hospital with a fractured jaw and right clavicle. He was found to have suffered the injuries due to misconduct while not on duty. For various offences at the time of that incident he accumulated 2 x 7 day detentions, 3 x 7 day Confined to Barracks and a 5 Pound fine.

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 Gasmata 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 - Event: births; Registration number: 29764 / 1920; Family name: BROWN; Given name(s): Victor; Place of event: CHELTENHAM, VIC, Australia; Personal detail Mother's name: Minnie Blanche; Mother's family name at birth: STANLEY; Father's Name: Harry James Richard

• Australian Army Militia Service File - National Archives of Australia - BROWN VICTOR : Service Number - V39020 : Date of birth - 17 Dec 1920 : Place of birth - MOORABBIN VIC : Place of enlistment - TRAWOOL VIC : Next of Kin - BROWN HARRY (paper file); Location: Canberra; Item Barcode: 6649066

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - BROWN VICTOR : Service Number - VX46516 : Date of birth - 17 Feb 1919 : Place of birth - MOORABBIN VIC : Place of enlistment - CAULFIELD VIC : Next of Kin - BROWN HARRY - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6137090

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1691534

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2615433/brown,-victor/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/621441

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/brown-victor/