McShane, Gerald John (Gunner, b.1922 - d.1942)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of TX4383 Gunner Gerald John McShane, Heavy Battery Rabaul, Second Australian Imperial Force, New Britain and Australia, 1942-1947.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of two letters relating to Gunner Gerald John McShane. The first letter was written by Gunner McShane to his mother, Mrs Friederica May McShane. The letter is dated 22 March 1942, and was written in New Britain shortly after Gunner McShane was captured as a prisoner of war by the Japanese. In his letter, Gunner McShane writes about his good health, being assistant cook in the camp, and reading books. He also sends love and best wishes to members of his family. The second letter [copy of original document] is from the Australian Military Forces to Gunner McShane’s father, Mr Martin John McShane, dated 15 August 1947. This letter informs Mr McShane of Gunner McShane’s transfer from the Citizen Military Forces to the Australian Imperial Force subsequent to his death as a prisoner of war of the Japanese.

Gunner Gerald John McShane enlisted to the Australian Military Forces on 22 February 1941. He served with the Heavy Battery in Rabaul, New Britain, as part of Lark Force. When Rabaul fell to the Japanese in January 1942, Gunner McShane was captured as a prisoner of war. Gunner McShane, alongside 1053 other prisoners from Rabaul, was killed on 1 July 1942, when the Japanese transport ship ‘Montevideo Maru’ was sunk by an Allied submarine in the South China Sea. He is commemorated at the Rabaul Memorial, Papua New Guinea.