Charles Francis Bryen (1910 - 1942)

Born 1910 in Waverley, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Died 1 Jul 1942 at about age 32 in At Sea

Biography

Frank Bryen was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Frank Bryen died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Charles Francis Bryen preferred to be called Frank. He was born in 1910 in Waverley, NSW, the eldest son of Charles and Louisa Bryen. His nickname was Tiny.^[1]

He was in the Territory of New Guinea by 1932.^[2] He was a clerk in the private sector.^[3]

He married Dorothy Beryl, probably in Rabaul, New Guinea. There were no children

Frenk was a member of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, a volunteer Milia unit sponsored by the Australian Army, but not permitted to be part of it under the League of Nations Mandate until after Japan entered the War. He was called to active duty as a Rifleman (NG4032) on 21 Jan 1942, 2 days before the Japanese invaded New Britain on 23 Jan 1942. He was captured at Lalavat and became a Prisoner of War, initially held at Rabaul. He died on board the "Montevideo Maru" when it was sunk off the coast of the Philippines on 01 Jul 1942, en route from Rabaul to Hainan where he was destined for forced labour.

He was posthumously enrolled in the 2nd AIF as NGX491.

Sources

1. ↑ NGVR Effort to Compile and Publish Complete Roll (19 August 1946). (1946-08-19). In Pacific islands monthly : PIM. XVII (1), - https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/234094999
2. ↑ PACIFIC ISLANDS TRAVELLERS (21 September 1932). (1932-09-21). In Pacific islands monthly : PIM. III (2), - https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/234069469
3. ↑ NEW GUINEA’S MISSING MEN Latest Unofficial Information (18 October 1943). (1943-10-18). In Pacific islands monthly : PIM. XIV (3), - https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/234090680

• Birth (probably) - NSW BDM Birth index - BRYEN CHARLES F; 33508/1910; CHARLES L; LOUISA M; WAVERLEY

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - BRYEN FRANCIS CHARLES : Service Number - NGX491 [NG4032] : Date of birth - Unknown : Place of birth - Unknown : Place of enlistment - T N G : Next of Kin - BRYEN DOROTHY - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=5881824

• Roll of Honour - Family Notices (1945, November 6). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 12. Retrieved January 11, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27920161

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1692649

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2615437/francis-charles-bryen/

• Probate Notice - "Administration and Probate Ordinance 1937-1940 of the Territory of New Guinea. Sections 100, 111 and 123." Territory of Papua-New Guinea Government Gazette (1945 - 1949) 13 August 1946: 83. Web. 11 Jan 2020 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article249060292>.

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/621572

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/bryen-francis-charles/