Alan Vaughan Hancock (1914 - 1942)

Born 7 Feb 1914 in Ivanhoe, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Freda Jane Ann (Green) Hancock — married Apr 1938 in Burwood, Victoria, Australia

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 28 in At Sea

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Biography

Alan Hancock was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Alan Hancock died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Alan Vaughan Hancock was born in 1914 at Ivanhoe, VIC, the son of Aaron and Mary Hancock.

He enlisted in the Australian Army Militia on 18 Aug 1936 for 3 years as a Trooper (93993) serving in the Australian Army Veterinary Corps. At the time he was single, a butcher working at Heidelberg Rd, Alphington, VIC and was living with his father at Ivanhoe, VIC. He was 5 ft 8 in tall. He re-enlisted on 18 Aug 1939 for a further 3 years. By that time he was a Lance Cpl. He was promoted Sgt on 01 Oct 1939.

He married Freda Jane Ann Green at Burwood, Victoria at Easter 1938.^[1] The marriage was performed by his uncle, Rev. J.E. Higginbotham. A son, Norman Alan was born in 1940.^[2]

He enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service at Royal Park, Melbourne, VIC on 15 Jul 1940 as a Private (VX36946). At the time he was married, a butcher and was living at Lancefield, VIC with his wife. He had brown hair and brown eyes.

He was initially allocated to the Army Service Corps 7th Div. Supply, but was posted to 2/22nd Bn on 22 Aug 1940.

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT "Katoomba" on 12 Apr 1941 for Rabaul, New Britain in the Territory of New Guinea, disembarking there on 26 Apr 1941.

When the Japanese invaded New Britain on 23 Jan 1942 he was captured at Taliligap and became a Prisoner of War, initially held at Rabaul. Japanese records show him as a transport soldier attached to the Headquarters. 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. ↑ Easter Weddings (1938, April 19). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 4. Retrieved January 12, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205916460
2. ↑ Family Notices (1940, August 17). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 13. Retrieved January 12, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204397771

• Birth - Victoria BDM Birth index - Event: births; Registration number: 4818 / 1914; Family name: HANCOCK; Given name(s): Alan Vaughan; Place of event: IVANHOE, VIC, Australia; Personal detail Mother's name: Mary; Mother's family name at birth: HUDSPETH; Father's Name: Aaron

• Australian Army Militia Service File - National Archives of Australia - Hancock, Alan Vaughan; Army Number - 93993; Date of birth - 07 February 1914 - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=9284695

• Marriage - Victoria BDM Marriage index - Event: marriages; Registration number: 6731 / 1938; Family name: HANCOCK; Given name(s): Alan Vaughan; Personal detail Spouse's family name: GREEN; Spouse's given name(s): Freda Jane Ann

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - HANCOCK ALAN VAUGHAN : Service Number - VX36946 : Date of birth - 07 Feb 1914 : Place of birth - IVANHOE VIC : Place of enlistment - ROYAL PARK VIC : Next of Kin - HANCOCK FREDA - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6138801

• Deaths On Active Service - Family Notices (1945, October 11). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 2. Retrieved January 12, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12146465

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1705893

• Probate Notice - Advertising (1946, February 20). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 18. Retrieved January 12, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22229322

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2615738/alan-vaughan-hancock/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/630896

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial: https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/hancock-alan-vaughan/