Allan Bernard Franks (1917 - 1942)

Born 7 Oct 1917 in Quirindi, New South Wales, Australia

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 24 in At Sea

Biography

Allan Franks was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Allan Franks died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Allan Bernard Franks was born on 7 October 1917 at Quirindi, NSW, the son of Ernest Hill and Linda Muriel Franks.

He enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service at Newcastle, NSW on 27 Aug 1940 as a Private (NX47288). At the time he was single, and was living with his father at Curricabark, NSW (near Barrington, NSW).

He was initially posted to 2/30th Bn, 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

• Birth - NSW BDM Birth index - FRANKS ALLAN B; 50010/1917; ERNEST H; LINDA M; QUIRINDI

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - FRANKS ALLEN BERNARD : Service Number - NX47288 : Date of birth - 07 Oct 1917 : Place of birth - QUIRINDI NSW : Place of enlistment - NEWCASTLE NSW : Next of Kin - FRANKS ERNEST - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=4882237

• Death Notification - Death of Ps.O.W. (1945, November 2). The Gloucester Advocate (NSW : 1905 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved February 27, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160466154

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1709030

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2615660/franks,-allen-bernard/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/628582

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/franks-allen-bernard/