BREWER, William James
| Service Number: | 5990 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 March 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 15th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia, June 1895 |
| Home Town: | Burnett Heads, Bundaberg, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Burnett Heads State School, Queensland |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Hebuterne, France, 29 March 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps Plot V, Row P, Grave no. 3 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Barolin State School HR, Bundaberg War Memorial, Burnett Heads War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5990, 15th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 5990, 15th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Itonus embarkation_ship_number: A50 public_note: '' | |
| 8 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 5990, 15th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Itonus, Brisbane | |
| 11 Apr 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 5990, 15th Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (First), GSW left arm |
Help us honour William James Brewer's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From François Berthout, Australia and NZ in WWI
Today, to commemorate the anniversary of his death and to honor his memory, I would like to pay a very respectful tribute to Private number 5990 William James Brewer who fought in the 15th battalion of Australian infantry🌺
William James Brewer was born in 1893 in Bundaberg, Queensland and he was the son of James and Sarah Brewer and they lived in Burnett Heads, Bundaberg, Queensland. Before the war, William worked as a labourer.
Enlisted in Brisbane, Queensland on March 10, 1916 at the age of 20 in the 15th Australian infantry battalion,19th Reinforcement, he embarked with his unit on board the HMAT Itonus on August 8, 1916 and arrived in Plymouth, England on October 18, 1916. From 15 November to 12 December William served with the 4th Training Battalion in England. He was then transported to France on SS Arundel via Folkestone, England.
Disembarked in Etaples, France on December 13,1916. Prior to joining 15th Battalion in action, he spent from 16 December to 23 December with 4th Australian Division Base Depot.
William Fought in the Somme and was wounded for the first time on April 14, 1917 during the Battle of Bullecourt where he received a gunshot wound in his left arm, and was transferred to hospital and given furlough. Much of this time was in units in England. From 28 July to 18 August 1917 he was again in France at 4th Division Base Depot. He then re-joined the 15th battallion and returned to fight in the Somme.Unfortunately William was killed in action in Hébuterne, Somme, on March 29, 1918 at the age of 23
Today, William James Brewer rests in peace with his comrades at the Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps, Somme.
Thank you William, we will never forget who you were and what you did for us. You fought bravely and you gave your life so that we could live in a peaceful world. You who came from australia to fight on this sacred land of the Somme where so many of your comrades fought and fell, you have forged Franco-Australian friendship, we will never forget you and the poppies will always bloom your grave in eternal remembrance.🌺🇦🇺
Click images to start slideshow.