Gratton, Keith William
Born: 1st April, 1919 – Adelaide, South Australia
Died: 1st July, 1942 – Montevideo Maru. Age 23.
Occupation – 1942: Sergeant – Royal Australian Artillery, Lark Force
ID: SX11445
Keith Gratton’s Story
My Uncle, Keith William Gratton was born in Adelaide South Australia on the 1st April 1919, the youngest of a family of 3 boys and one girl. He was the son of Francis Lymer Gratton and Amy Jane Gratton (nee Barrows).
Keith’s father, F.L. Gratton was a music composer and Supervisor of Music for the South Australian Education Department and also conductor of the 1,000 voices choir.
Keith’s family lived at Seacliffe, a seaside suburb and he became a valued member of the Seacliffe Surf Lifesaving Club.
On the 25th February 1941 he enlisted with the Australian Army (Service number SX11445) and subsequently reached the rank of Sergeant. While stationed in Rabaul, New Guinea, he was captured by the Japanese and became a prisoner of war.
It is surmised that he was being transported to Japan with other prisoners on the unmarked ship the Montevideo Maru when it was sunk by the American Warship SS Sturgeon on the 1st July 1942.
Keith’s family and girl friend Betty did not learn of his fate until after the war ended.
My mother, the late Ruth Payne who was Keith Gratton’s sister, kept photographs and documents relating to Keith Gratton’s life and passed them to me, her son Keith (named after her brother) for safe keeping.
Photographs and Story kindly provided by G. Keith Payne (Nephew)
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- Gratton, Keith – Letter P1
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- Gratton, Keith – Letter P2
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- Gratton, Keith – Letter P3
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- Gratton, Keith – POW Letter
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Please concact me if possible- my late Mother and I used to travel by train to Seacliffe to visit your grandparents. They were gentle and caring folk who showed My Mother any kindnesses. My late Father was one of Keith’s Officers from SA.- Stewart G. Nottage.
Hello Helen, just checked the website & found your comment.
Hello Keith,
So pleased that you have made contact- whatever I can recall I will
divulge to you.I am now 74 and not a young child of age 8 but I do remember your Grandfather allowing me to read some wonderful picture books to read- The Childrens” Hour”.
They were such gracious folk and I know that my late Father, Stewart G. Nottage was like a father to your Uncle as he was so much older. It is a true story that the Officers were separated from the other ranks by the Japanese but they did hear them marching off to embark on the Montervideo Maru and the late Padre John May said blessibg for them- My Father was a POW with other Officers in Japan for 3 and a half years but did not know until October 1945 what happened to their men- The Labor Government at the time withheld the information. One wonders why?????? I’m pretty certain that once my Dad was better we did again visit Seacliff.