Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born in Narrogin WA in 1917, Bert was the fourth of ten children of Charles John Brinkworth (b1881 in Clare, South Australia) and Mary Ann Cecilia Turnbull (b1889 in Wyndham, New Zealand). Charles (a Farmer) and Mary married in 1909 in Katanning WA. By 1922 Charles was working for WAGR, and he and Mary lived in Katanning, Coolgardie, Cuballing, Albany, Northam and Perth - Charles was an Asstant Station Master and Station Master.

Bert was working as a Motor Mechanic in Mt Helena, Northam WA in December 1938 when he enlisted in the Militia (10th Light Horse Regiment). In August 1941 Bert was a Truck Driver when he enlisted in the ACMF (Private (Service No:W383). Bert served in Adelaide River and Darwin (2 December 1944 - 14 November 1945) and was a Private attached to NT Stationery Depot when was Discharged in December 1945.

In January 1943 Bert had married Roma May Otway (b1922 in Beverley WA) and following his Discharge, the couple settled in Greenbushes nr Balingup WA. The Blackwood Times (Fri 30 January 1953; p2) reported that Bert '... came to Greenbushes about eight years ago with his wife and small son. He started work at Allen's Garage, which later became Dorsett Motors. He later joined the staff of the George Smith Lumber Co.'

On Friday 23 January 1953, Bert '... had finished work for the day and was rolling up cable attached to an electric drill when he walked onto a wet patch of ground near a water cooler' (The West Australian, Mon 26 June 1953; p9). Bert was electrocuted by an unearthed power point and died on site. He had five young children - the youngest was two weeks old. Roma remained for some years in Greenbushes WA before moving to Perth where she remarried in 1959.