Arthur Wallace Adams (1915 - 1942)

Born 14 Nov 1915 in Golden Square, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 26 in at Sea

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Biography

Arthur Adams was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Arthur Adams died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Arthur Wallace Adams, Private

Birth 14 Nov 1915 at Golden Square, Victoria, Australia

parents -

William Wallace Adams

Birth 30 Nov 1886 at Kangaroo Flat, Ravenswood, Victoria, Australia

Death 13 Mar 1931 at Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia &

Sarah Grimes

Birth 7 AUG 1875 at Gunbower, Victoria, Australia

Death 25 JUL 1958 at Yarraville, Victoria, Australia

Military 1939 - 1948 Arthur Wallace Adams Birth Date: 14 Nov 1915 Birth Place: Golden Square Victoria Year Range: 1939 - 1948 Enlistment Place: Caulfield Victoria Service Number: VX23998 Mother: Sarah Adams Series Description: B883: Army, 2nd Al F;

Death 1 Jul 1942 aged 26yrs at Sea died in sinking of Japanese Prison Ship SS Montevideo Maru, was sunk by US submarine while enroute to Japan; [before dawn1 Jul 1942 off Luzon in northern Philippines, in South China Sea]

Memorial - Kokopo, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea

Private Arthur Wallace Adams Death Date: 1 Jul 1942 Cemetery: Rabaul War Cemetery and Memorial Burial or Cremation Place: Kokopo, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea

Memorial ID 23807683

Service No: VX23998 Age: 26 Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 2/22 Bn. Son of Sarah Adams, of Yarraville, Victoria.

Arthur enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service at Caulfield, VIC on 07 Jun 1940 as a Private (VX23998). At the time he was single, a transport driver 1st grade and was living at Yarraville, VIC with his mother. He had fair hair and hazel eyes.

Although initially identified as a Driver for the 2/8th Field Coy, RAE, he was posted to 2/22nd Bn at Puckapunyal, VIC on 15 Jul 1940.

He was promoted A/ Lance Cpl on 29 Oct 1940 at Bonegilla, VIC

He entrained from Victoria for Sydney on 10 Mar 1941, embarking there on HMT "Katoomba" on 12 Mar 1941 for Rabaul, New Britain in the Territory of New Guinea and disembarking there on 28 Mar 1941. His Battalion was to form the core of "Lark Force" for the defence of the Territory.

He reverted to Private on 07 May 1941.

After the Japanese invasion of 23 Jan 1942, he was captured at Gasmata many weeks after the invasion and 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 - Victoria, Australia, Birth Index, 1837-1917

Arth Wallace Adams Birth Registration Date: 1915 Birth Registration Place: Victoria, Australia Father: Wm Wallace Adams Mother Maiden Name: Grimes Reference Number: 30993;

Military - Australia, World War II Military Service Records, 1939-1945

Death/Burial - Global, Find A Grave Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current Private Arthur Wallace Adams Death Date 1 Jul 1942 Cemetery Rabaul War Cemetery and Memorial Burial or Cremation Place Kokopo, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea Has Bio? N URL https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23807683

• WWII AMF Service record - National Archives of Australia - ADAMS ARTHUR WALLACE : Service Number - VX23998 : Date of birth - 14 Nov 1915 : Place of birth - GOLDEN SQUARE VIC : Place of enlistment - CAULFIELD VIC : Next of Kin - ADAMS SARAH - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6207524

• Roll of Honour - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1711117

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2615303/adams,-arthur-wallace/

See also:

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/617699
• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial (https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/ : accessed 7 Mar 2024) database entry for Arthur Wallace Adams