Kevin Patrick Casey (1921 - 1942)

Born 12 Jun 1921 in North Arm, Queensland, Australia

Ancestors

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 21 in At Sea

Biography

Kevin Casey was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Kevin Casey died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Kevin Patrick CASEY was born on 12 June 1921 at North Arm, Queensland^[1], the son of Edward Bernard Casey and Annie Elizabeth Kunde.

He enlisted in the Australian Army Militia in Brisbane, QLD on 31 Jul 1941 as a Gunner (Q89526) in the Royal Australian Artillery Coastal Command. At the time he was single, a houseman and was living in Newmarket, QLD. He had brown hair and hazel eyes.

He commenced duty at Fort Lytton, QLD on 01 Aug 1941.

He embarked in Brisbane on the "Macdhui" on 27 Sep 1941 for Rabaul, New Britain in the Territory of New Guinea, disembarking there on 08 Oct 1941 as part of "Lark Force" Royal Australian Artillery, Rabaul Heavy Battery, protecting the harbour.

The battery was destroyed by Japanese bombing ahead of the invasion on 23 Jan 1942.

He was captured after the invasion at Keravat and became a Prisoner of War, initially held at Rabaul.

He was among those who were able to write a carefully scripted latter to next of kin advising that he was a POW. The letters were dropped from a Japanese plane over Port Moresby, Papua.^[2]

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.

He was posthumously enrolled in the 2nd AIF as QX64921.

Sources

1. ↑ Queensland Government: Family history research service: Birth. Kevin Patrick Casey; Event date: 12/06/1921; Event type: Birth registration; Registration details: 1921/C/4133; Mother: Annie Elizabeth Kunde; Father/parent: Edward Bernard Casey. https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/
2. ↑ Red Cross POW Enquiry cards - https://gallery.its.unimelb.edu.au/imu/imu.php?request=multimedia&irn=33183

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - CASEY KEVIN PATRICK : Service Number - QX64921 : Date of birth - 15 Jun 1921 : Place of birth - NORTH ARM QLD : Place of enlistment - BRISBANE : Next of Kin - CASEY EDWARD - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=4481392

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1691774

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2615476/casey,-kevin-patrick/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/622796

• Kevin Patrick Casey (The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/ : accessed 16 Mar 2024)