Charles
William
(William)
Giles
Born in Saint Arnaud, Victoria, Australia
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
[spouse(s) unknown]
[children unknown]
Died
at age 24
in At Sea
Profile last modified
| Created 19 Jan 2020
This page has been accessed 82 times.
Biography
William Giles was a Prisoner of War during World War II.
William Giles died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.
Charles William Giles was born at St Arnaud, VIC in 1918. He was known as William, probably to distinguish him from his father Charles Joseph Giles.
He enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service on 21 Jun 1940 at Caulfield, VIC, after completing his attestation form at St Arnaud on 06 Jun 1940. He enlisted as a Private (VX28640). At the time he was single, a labourer and was living with his father in St Arnaud. He had fair hair and blue eyes.
On 31 Jul 1940 he was posted to 2/22nd Bn.
He embarked at Sydney on HMAT "Katoomba" on 18 Apr 1941 for Rabaul, New Britain in the Territory of New Guinea, disembarking there on 26 Apr 1941.
When the Japanese invaded New Britain on 23 Jan 1942 he was captured at Keravat and became a Prisoner of War, initially held at Rabaul. Japanese records show him as a member of A Coy, 2/22nd Bn. 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 BDM Birth index - Event: births; Registration number: 14993 / 1918; Family name: GILES; Given name(s): Chas Wm; Place of event: ST ARNAUD, VIC, Australia; Personal detail Mother's name: Frances Violet; Mother's family name at birth: WATSON; Father's Name: Chas Jos
- WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - GILES WILLIAM CHARLES : Service Number - VX28640 : Date of birth - 16 Apr 1918 : Place of birth - ST ARNAUD VIC : Place of enlistment - CAULFIELD VIC : Next of Kin - GILES C - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6202078
- Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1705873
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2615690/william-charles-giles/
- Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/629386
- The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial: https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/giles-william-charles/
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G > Giles > Charles William Giles
Categories: St Arnaud, Victoria | 2nd 22nd Infantry Battalion, Australian Army, World War II | Montevideo Maru Sinking, 1942 | Rabaul War Cemetery and Memorial, Papua New Guinea | Rabaul Montevideo Maru War Memorial, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea | Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Lake Wendouree, Victoria | Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | St Arnaud War Memorial, St Arnaud, Victoria | Prisoners of War, Australia, World War II | Died while Prisoner of War, Australia, World War II