William 'Splinter' Edward Flood
William 'Splinter' Edward Flood was born 23rd February 1917 in Rockhampton, QLD, He was the son of Alice May Caroline Ellis (EDMONDS) and Thomas John FLOOD, of North Rockhampton, Queensland.
William worked on his father's farm at Wowan, outside Rockhampton. He was an accomplished rider, winning prizes in the 1935 Wowan Rodeo.
He enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service at Rockhampton, QLD on 20 Jun 1940 as a Signalman (QX8467). At the time he was a farmer, single and living with his father at Wowan.
Served World War 2 - Private - QX8467 - 1st Independent Company.
During training he was identified for commando training and was transferred to the Infantry Training Centre at Foster, Victoria.
William was transferred to No. 1 Independent Coy (a commando unit) on 10 May 1941 and was graded as a Signaller Group II the same day.
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 Company 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.
POW JAPAN - LARK FORCE - Captured at Sea South of RABAUL aboard INDUNA STAR. 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.
Japanese records that say he was captured on the Lassul Bay Coast on neighbouring New Britain are almost certainly wrong.
William died on board the "Montevideo Maru" when it was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of the Philippines, Pacific Ocean: South China Sea, on 01 Jul 1942. He was aged 25. The ship was en route from Rabaul to Hainan where he was destined for forced labour.
Submitted 14 January 2024
by Ingrid F
