NEWMAN, Horace George
| Service Number: | VX24138 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 June 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/22nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | PENARTH, ENGLAND, 14 March 1910 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Died at sea (Montevideo Maru), South China Sea, 1 July 1942, aged 32 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Apollo Bay War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Rabaul Memorial, Rabaul Montevideo Maru Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Private, VX24138 | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX24138, 2nd/22nd Infantry Battalion |
Notes on Horace Newman
Horace Newman was born in Wales and came to Australia in 1926 under the Little Brother movement. He worked on farms in the Otways District and at the time of his enlistment was employed by Henry’s Mill, Forrest.
As part of 2/22 Battalion, Horace was sent to Rabaul in Papua New Guinea in 1941. The 2/22 was captured by the Japanese in the Battle of Rabaul in 1942.
The 'Montevideo Maru' was a Japanese auxiliary ship sunk on 1st July 1942, and resulted in the drowning of many Australian prisoners of war and civilians being transported from Rabaul, in what is considered the worst maritime disaster in Australia’s history. Horace was among the POWs who lost their lives on board this ship [source: Colac Family History]
Submitted 31 July 2025 by Ian Fox
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