Allan Edward Philpott (1912 - 1942)

Born 17 Aug 1912 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 29 in At Sea

Alan Philpott was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Alan Philpott died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Biography

Alan was born in 1912 in Geelong, VIC, the elder son of David Charles Philpott and his wife Clara May.

Alan was a radio engineer. In 1937 he was a director of Radio and Television Laboratories P/L in Geelong.^[1]

Alan enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service on 04 Mar 1941 at Royal Park, Melbourne, VIC as a Private (VX50161). At the time he was a radio engineer, single and living with his parents in Geelong. He had fair hair and blue eyes. He had served with Area Signals in High School (V1036). He was made Temporary Sergeant on the same day he enlisted.

He was transferred to No 1 Independent Coy on 10 May 1941 and embarked on HMAT "Zeelandia" on 12 Jul 1941 at Melbourne for Kavieng on New Ireland in the Territory of New Guinea, disembarking there on 24 Jul 1941.

When the Japanese landed on New Ireland on 22 Jan 1942 he avoided capture and made his way across the island and boarded the "Induna Star", an 81 ton steel ketch which had been repaired after being damaged in an air raid. Hearing that New Britain had already fallen, he and other members of his party tried to escape by sailing for Port Moresby. On 02 Feb 1942 the "Induna Star" was sighted and attacked by a Japanese aircraft causing significant damage and casualties and were forced to surrender. Under escort from aircraft and later a Japanese destroyer they were taken to Rabaul. As a Prisoner of War he was initially held at Rabaul.

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

1. ↑ New Companies (1937, May 6). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 8. Retrieved December 21, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11062214

• Birth - Victoria BDM Birth index - Event: births; Registration number: 30207 / 1912; Family name: PHILPOTT; Given name(s): Allan Edwd; Place of event: GEELONG, VIC, Australia; Personal detail Mother's name: Clara May; Mother's family name at birth: BARRS; Father's Name: David Chas

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - PHILPOTT ALAN EDWARD : Service Number - VX50161 : Date of birth - 17 Aug 1912 : Place of birth - GEELONG VIC : Place of enlistment - ROYAL PARK VIC : Next of Kin - PHILPOTT DAVID - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6131786

• Deaths On Active Service - Family Notices (1945, October 10). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 13. Retrieved December 21, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12146231

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1699374