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George Leonard Brett (1894 - 1942)

George Leonard Brett
Born in Woolwich, London, England, United Kingdommap
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
[spouse(s) unknown]
[children unknown]
Died at about age 48 in At Seamap
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Profile last modified | Created 24 Jun 2019
This page has been accessed 67 times.

Biography

George was born in Woolwich, London in 1894, the son of George Leonard Brett, a soldier and his wife Rose Maria, nee Bee.

During WW1, George enlisted in the New Zealand Army on 09 Aug 1914, only a few days after the British declared war as a Private (No. 1/257). He was living in Wellington, NZ and was a barman at the time. He was 5 ft 11 in tall, with fair complexion, green eyes and light brown hair. He had previously served in the Royal Artillery, although it couldn't have been for very long as he was only 20 when he enlisted in the NZ Army. He increased his age by about 4 years at enlistment, possibly to avoid getting consent from his mother who was still living in Kent, England. He embarked with the Samoan Expeditionary Force on 12 Aug 1914 and served there until 14 Apr 1915. His official number was changed to MG17 when he was allocated to the 5th Regiment Machine Gun detachment. He was not a good soldier. He was already confined to barrack for an irregularity while on sentry duty when he disobeyed an order and struck his Sergeant in Dec 1914. A Field Court Martial sentenced him to 90 days Field Punishment No 2. He went AWOL while on Field Punishment. He was discharged on 15 Apr 1915.

George married Beryl Wood Parkinson in Wellington New Zealand in 1923. There was one child:- Audrey Jocelyn (Summers).

George lived in the Territory of New Guinea from about 1923.

According to one source George was a trader, buying copra and selling native supplies. According to others he was a company manager and a mine employee. He was captured by the Japanese in 1942 at Mishima (Uncertain location, possibly Misima Island, which had a gold mine). He was interned by the Japanese as a civilian prisoner, 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 - UK GRO BDM Birth index - BRETT, GEORGE LEONARD; BEE; GRO Reference: 1894 M Quarter in WOOLWICH Volume 01D Page 1268
  • Marriage - NZ BDM Marriage index - 1923/692; Beryl Wood Parkinson;George Leonard Brett




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Categories: Montevideo Maru Sinking, 1942