Robert Alphonso Leslie Brown (abt. 1878 - 1942)

Born about 21 Jan 1878 in Paddington, New South Wales, Australia

Died 1 Jul 1942 at about age 64 in At Sea

Biography

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

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

Robert Alphonso Leslie Brown was born in 1878 in Sydney, NSW.

He married Florence Johnson in 1916. There were 2 children, a daughter, Glenagh, born in 1919 (married name Halvorsen) and Alma Dulcie, born about 1908.

He enlisted in the Australian Army in WW1 on 16 May 1918 but was discharged prior to leaving Australia due to the cessation of hostilities. He was a motor importer and had 1 child from a prior marriage (Alma Dulcie, aged 10).

He reenlisted on 15 Jan 1919 for the N & ME Force, which was a military force tasked with administering the former German territory of New Guinea. By that stage he had a second child.

He embarked on the transport "Melusia"on 19 Feb 1919 for Rabaul as a Private (No 1732), working as a Driver. He re-engaged and was eventually discharged in Rabaul on 09 May 1921 as a WO II when the administration of New Guinea became a civil responsibility. He stayed on and worked for the Administration as a civilian.

He was living in Rabaul and was working as the Administration automobiles section as a motor mechanic when the Japanese invaded in Jan 1942. He became a civilian internee and was on board the Montevideo Maru when it was torpedoed and sunk on 01 Jul 1942 off the coast of the Philippines, enroute from Rabaul to Hainan where he was destined for forced labour. He did not survive.

Sources

• Birth Registration - NSW BDM Birth index - BROWN ROBERT A L; 4906/1877; WILLIAM W; ELIZABETH H J; PADDINGTON

• Marriage - NSW BDM Marriage index - 13189/1916; BROWN ROBERT A L; JOHNSON FLORENCE V; SYDNEY

• WW1& New Guinea Army Service record - National Archives of Australia - Brown Robert Alphonse Leslie : SERN 1732 : POB Sydney NSW : POE Sydney NSW : NOK W Brown Florence Vivienne - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=1801447

• Death record - National Archives of Australia - https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=102239&S=27

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/3173231/robert-alphonso-leslie-brown/