William Warhurst (1900 - 1942)

Born 18 Jun 1900 in Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Husband of Adeline Annie (Todd) Warhurst — married 1936 in Victoria, Australia

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 42 in At Sea

Biography

William Warhurst was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

William Warhurst died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

William Warhurst was born in 1900 in Port Melbourne, Colony of Victoria. His parents were George Elias WARHURST and Margaret FERGUSON.

On 13 January 1919 he enlisted in the Australian Army at Queenscliff, Victoria as a Gunner (No.2098, later VP722) in the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery. He had been a labourer and was 5 ft 9 & 1/2 in tall, fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.

On 31 July 1921 he transferred from 3MD (Victoria) to 1MD (QLD) at Thursday Island. He was promoted A/Bombardier on 07 August 1923 and transferred back to 3MD on 11 October 1923. He re-engaged for 3 years on 13 January 1924 and was promoted to Bombardier on 01 December 1924 and to provisional L/Sgt on 01 July 1925. On 13 January 1927 he re-engaged for 3 years, and again on 13 January 1930. He reverted to Bombardier on 27 October 1930 and transferred to Darwin on 25 July 1932. He re-engaged for a further 2 years on 13 January 1933 and was promoted L/Sgt on 09 September 1933.

On 26 August 1934 he transferred back to 3MD. On 13 January 1935 he re-engaged for a further 3 years. On 04 June 1935 he was promoted Sgt.

Adeline Annie Todd and William Warhurst were married in 1936 in Victoria, Australia

William re-engaged on 13 January 1938 (at Fort Direction, Tasmania) and was promoted S/Sgt on 02 September 1938. On 11 November 1938 he was transferred to 7 Heavy Battery in 7MD (newly formed for NT). He re-engaged for a further 3 years on 13 January 1941 and transferred to the Tropical Force on 22 February 1941.

He embarked at Sydney with "L" Force on 18 April 1941 , disembarking in Rabaul in the Territory of New Guinea on 26 April 1941. He was assigned to the Rabaul Heavy Battery Coastal Artillery.

When the Japanese invaded New Britain in January 1942 he was captured near Taliligap (midway between Rabaul & Kokopo) 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 July 1942 en route from Rabaul to Hainan where he was destined for forced labour.

He was posthumously transferred to the AIF as TX4358.

Sources

• Birth - Victoria BDM Birth index - Event: births; Registration number: 21428 / 1900; Family name: WARHURST; Given name(s): Wm; Place of event: PORT MELBOURNE, Australia; Personal detail Mother's name: Margt; Mother's family name at birth: FERGUSON; Father's Name: Elias Geo

• Australian Army Service record - National Archives of Australia - WARHURST WILLIAM : Service Number - TX4358 : Date of birth - 18 Jun 1900 : Place of birth - PORT MELBOURNE : Place of enlistment - QUEENSCLIFF VIC : Next of Kin - WARHURST A - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6382909

• Marriage - Victoria BDM Marriage index - Event: marriages; Registration number: 11363 / 1936; Family name: WARHURST; Given name(s): Wm; Personal detail Spouse's family name: HOTTON; Spouse's given name(s): Adeline Annie

• Roll of Honour - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1694712

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2616446/william-warhurst/