Alexander Lewis Charles Davis (1920 - 1942)

Born 28 May 1920 in Moina, Tasmania, Australia

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 22 in At Sea

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Biography

Alexander Davis was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Alexander Davis died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Alexander Lewis Charles Davis was born on 28 May 1920 at Moina, TAS, the son of Walther Alexander and Elizabeth May Davis.

He had lived for some time at Waratah, TAS where his mother seems to have worked at the Hospital.

He enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service at Caulfield, VIC on 15 Jul 1940 as a Private (VX35679). At the time he was single, a labourer and was living at Carrum, VIC. He had dark brown hair and green eyes.

Following training he was transferred to No. 1 Independent Coy (a commando unit) on 14 Jun 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. The Japanese record shows him as an engineer.

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

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - DAVIS ALEXANDER LEWIS CHARLES : Service Number - VX35679 : Date of birth - 28 May 1920 : Place of birth - WOINA TAS : Place of enlistment - ROYAL PARK VIC : Next of Kin - DAVIS ELIZABETH - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6136880

• REPORTED MISSING (1942, August 15). Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved March 8, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article68776468

• Deaths Members of the Forces - Family Notices (1945, October 9). Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved March 8, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article68943990

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1710876

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2615567/davis,-alexander-lewis-charles/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/625406

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