Kevin Joseph GOVE

GOVE, Kevin Joseph

    Service Numbers: VE446496, VX51079
    Enlisted: 12 January 1939
    Last Rank: Private
    Last Unit: 2nd/29th Infantry Battalion
    Born: Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 16 November 1917
    Home Town: Ballarat, Central Highlands, Victoria
    Schooling: Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
    Occupation: Bricklayer
    Died: Died at sea (Rakuyo Maru), South China Sea, 12 September 1944, aged 26 years
    Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
    Labuan Memorial, Labuan, Malaysia
    Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Labuan Memorial, Labuan Federal Territory, Malaysia
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    World War 2 Service

    12 Jan 1939: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VE446496, 8th (VIC) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)
    3 Sep 1939: Involvement Private, VX51079
    1 Apr 1940: Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, 5 Central Reserve, On the 1st April 1940 he was Transferred to the Reserve.
    31 Jan 1941: Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, 8th (VIC) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC), On the 31st January 1941 he was Transferred from the Reserve and Placed on the Active List.
    17 Mar 1941: Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VE446496, 8th (VIC) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC), On the 17th March 1941 he was Demobilized so that he could Transfer/Enlist with the AIF.
    18 Mar 1941: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX51079, 2nd/29th Infantry Battalion
    18 Mar 1941: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX51079, Recruit Reception Depot, On the 18th March 1941 he Enlisted with the Australian Army 2nd AIF at Royal Park, Victoria as Private VX51079.
    28 Mar 1941: Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, Recruit Training Centre, On the 28th March 1941 he was Transferred to the Recruit Training Centre.
    11 Dec 1941: Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, 6th Training Battalion, On the 11th December 1941 he was Transferred to the 6th Training Battalion.
    10 Jan 1942: Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX51079, 2nd/29th Infantry Battalion, On the 10th January 1942 he Embarked from Sydney aboard Vessel HMAT M.S., bound for Singapore.
    26 Jan 1942: Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX51079, 2nd/29th Infantry Battalion, On the 26th January 1942 he Disembarked at Singapore.
    16 Feb 1942: Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX51079, 2nd/29th Infantry Battalion, Malaya/Singapore, On the 16th February 1942 he was reported as Missing in Malaya.
    16 Feb 1942: Imprisoned Malaya/Singapore, Reported as a Prisoner Of War and Interred at the Thailand Camp.
    2 Nov 1943: Imprisoned Malaya/Singapore, on the 2nd November 1943 it is Reported that he is now Interred in the Moulmein Prisoner Of War Camp, Burma.
    1 Dec 1943: Imprisoned Malaya/Singapore, Reported to be a P.O.W. on the Thailand-Burma Railway. Earning 10 cents a day so the Japanese say.....
    12 Sep 1944: Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX51079, 2nd/29th Infantry Battalion, Malaya/Singapore, He was Reported Missing and Presumed Dead when the Japanese were Transferring P.O.W.s aboard the vessel "Rakuyo Maru" which was Torpedoed by US Submarines with the loss of 1,159 P.O.W.s

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