ww2 Australian patch

**Antipater** · 09-13-2022, 04:11 AM

This patch has been in my family since ww2 and I think could belong to my great grandfather's younger brother any help is greatly appreciated.
Sadly the patch has been mauled by a scissor at one point as well as being mothed.
All I know about him is that he was a signaller in the 1st independent company and that he died on the Montevideo Maru.

(him on the right)

**wizardman** · 09-13-2022, 04:38 AM

Signals Colour patch but because its cut, i cant tell you the Company, Unit. Ill try and do some research on him.

**wizardman** · 09-13-2022, 04:51 AM

**Antipater** · 09-13-2022, 05:30 AM

Thanks wizardman for the quick response.
Although I'm looking for a wx7307 Thomas john Watson, I'm sorry for the confusion I may have caused.
A picture of him below

**wizardman** · 09-13-2022, 06:36 AM

Im sorry mate, i was rushing at work and searched his service number and this guy came up, so i uploaded his records and couldnt see his details. W.A boy, P.O.W, last name the same. ill get on to it

**wizardman** · 09-13-2022, 06:44 AM

That photo is from the AWM and correctly listed as Signalls and hes wearing a 7th Aust. Division signals patch, then at some stage hes changes over to 1 Independent company (Commandos) ..of which the colour patch below would be applicable.

**wizardman** · 09-13-2022, 06:46 AM

"He served with No. 1 Independent Company on the island of New Ireland. He was taken prisoner of war (POW) following the Japanese invasion of January 1942 and held at Rabaul, New Britain. On 22 June 1942 Sig Watson was one of an estimated 845 POWs and 209 civilians who embarked from Rabaul aboard the Japanese transport ship MV Montevideo Maru. The POWs were members of the No. 1 Independent Company, 2/22 Battalion and other units of Lark Force. Civilians included officials of the New Guinea Administration and missionaries. The ship sailed unescorted for Hainan Island. On 1 July 1942 all the prisoners died when the Montevideo Maru was torpedoed by a US Navy submarine, USS Sturgeon, off the coast of Luzon Island in the Philippines."
from the AWM