Charles Nolan (1921 - 1942)

Born 17 Jun 1921 in Subiaco, Western Australia, Australia

Ancestors

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 21 in At Sea

Biography

Charles Nolan was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Charles Nolan died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

When Charles NOLAN enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service on 21 Dec 1940 at the Recruit Reception Depot, Claremont, Western Australia he claimed he was born in 1919 at Perth, W.A. His birth registration shows he was born on 17 June 1921 in Subiaco, so he had raised his age to conveniently be over 21 and not need parental permission to enlist. He was the son of Charles William NOLAN and Zanonie Emily Beatrice CROCOS.^[1]

He enlisted as a Private (WX10520). At the time he was single, a truck driver and was living at Highgate Hill, W.A. with his mother Beatrice Kemp. He had dark hair and brown eyes.

He had previously served in the Militia as a Private (W13895) in the Australian Army Service Corps.

In training he was appointed A/ Lance Cpl on 30 Jan 1941. He reverted to Driver on 14 Jun 1941.

After training he was transferred to No. 1 Independent Coy (a commando unit) on 03 Jul 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.

After capture he was able to write a carefully scripted letter to his mother which was dropped from a Japanese plane over Port Moresby in mid 1942.

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.

Research Notes

His mother later remarried as Kemp, and again later as Pillion. In 1983 a niece, Mrs June Rampellini from Balcatta, WA made enquiries.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Index (WA Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages : accessed 22 Apr 2024), Index entry for Nolan, Charles; Father: Charles William NOLAN; Mother: Zanonie Emily Beatrice CROCOS; Place of Birth: Subiaco; Year of Birth: 1921; District: Perth; Registration Number: 101546; Registration Year: 1921

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - NOLAN CHARLES : Service Number - WX10520 : Date of birth - 17 Jun 1919 : Place of birth - PERTH WA : Place of enlistment - CLAREMONT WA : Next of Kin - KEMP BEATRICE - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6455476

• Deaths On Service - Family Notices (1945, October 25). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved February 21, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44826626

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1683605

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2616101/nolan,-charles/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/641574

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