Ernest Green (1915 - 1942)

Born 10 Nov 1915 in Newtown, New South Wales, Australia

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 26 in At Sea

Biography

Ernest Green was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Ernest Green died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Ernest Green was born in Newtown, NSW in 1915. Son of Sophia Catherine Green

He enlisted in the Australian Army (Militia) at North Head, NSW on 16 Jun 1939 as a Gunner (NP5413) and was allocated to 1st Heavy Brigade, Royal Australian Artillery. He was 5 ft 11 & 1/2 in tall with fresh complexion, brown hair and brown eyes. He had been a labourer. It appears he applied to enlist under the name of Palmer first. His birth only gives his mother, so Palmer may either be a step-father or a natural father.

He married Evelyn Joyce Kitchin in 1940, possibly on 01 May 1940.

He was promoted Bombardier on 01 Jun 1940 while with 1Heavy Brigade. He volunteered for overseas service in early 1941 and was transferred to the War Establishment on 01 Aug 1941 and promoted T/Sgt the same day. He disembarked from HMAT "Neptuna" in Rabaul in the Territory of New Guinea on 21 Aug 1941 and became part of the Rabaul Anti-Aircraft Battery.

When the Japanese invaded in Jan 1942 he was captured on the Wide Bay Coast (a long way from Rabaul, so probably trying to escape) and became a Prisoner of War. 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 transferred to the 2nd AIF as NX191434.

Sources

• Birth - NSW BDM Birth index - GREEN ERNEST; 48006/1915; SOPHIA C; NEWTOWN

• WWII Australian Army Service record - National Archives of Australia - GREEN ERNEST : Service Number - NX191434 : Date of birth - 10 Nov 1915 : Place of birth - NEWTOWN NSW : Place of enlistment - NORTH HEAD NSW : Next of Kin - GREEN JOYCE - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=5608812

• Marriage - NSW BDM Marriage index - 10884/1940; GREEN ERNEST; KITCHIN EVELYN JOYCE; STOCKTON

• Roll of Honour - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1704778

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2615712/ernest-green/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/630185

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial: https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/green-ernest/