Colin Jackson (1917 - 1942)

Born 19 Jul 1917 in Gympie, Queensland, Australia

Husband of Joyce Emily Mary (Best) Jackson — married 25 Jun 1941 in Gympie, Queensland, Australia

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 24 in At Sea

Biography

Colin Jackson was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Colin Jackson died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Colin Jackson was born at Gympie, Queensland, Australia on 19 July 1917. His parents were Samuel Jackson and Beatrice Wells

He enlisted in the Australian Army at Gympie, Queensland on 27 Jul 1940 as a Private (QX12940). At the time he was single, a farm labourer and living with his parents at Goomboorian, via Gympie. He had black hair and brown eyes.

He was promoted Lance Cpl on 17 Jan 1941 and A/Cpl on 20 Mar 1941. He married Joyce Best in Gympie on 25 Jun 1941.

He was allocated to the No.1 Independent Coy and dismebarked from HMAT "Zealandia" at Kavieng on New Ireland in the Territory of New Guinea on 24 Jul 1941.

When the Japanese invaded New Ireland on 23 Jan 1942 he was probably with the bulk of the Coy 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. 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.

He died on board the "Montevideo Maru" when it was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of the Philippines en route from Rabaul to Hainan where he was destined for forced labour.

Sources

• Birth - Queensland BDM Birth index - Birth registration: Colin Jackson; Birth date: 19/07/1917; Mother's name: Beatrice Wells; Father/parent's name: Samuel Jackson; Registration details: 1917/C/9341

• Marriage - Queensland BDM Marriage index - Marriage registration: Colin Jackson; Marriage date: 25/06/1941; Spouse's name: Joyce Emily Mary Best; Registration details: 1941/C/3150

• Marriage Report - Jackson—Best (1941, June 30). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 12 (CITY FINAL LAST MINUTE NEWS). Retrieved October 23, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article186636161

• Australian Army Service Record - National Archives of Australia - JACKSON COLIN : Service Number - QX12940 : Date of birth - 19 Jul 1917 : Place of birth - GYMPIE QLD : Place of enlistment - GYMPIE QLD : Next of Kin - JACKSON JOYCE - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=4499799

• Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1686686

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2615832/colin-jackson/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/633619

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial: https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/jackson-colin/