Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Adalbert Gurwood owned a chain of stores which sold electrical goods in Sydney by the 1940's. His main office was at 481 Kent Street Sydney & he had a warehouse in Waterloo.

Courtesy of Catherine Broue

Adalbert Gurwood Broue was born in Singleton, New South Wales, Australia on the 4th of June 1900, to father Albert Edward Broue and mother Pearl Christine Lethbridge (1). He lived in his hometown of Ourimbah, Wyong Shire, New South Wales with his parents and his two younger siblings, brother Gaston Marie Broue, born in 1904, and sister Vineta Elise Broue, who was born in 1905 (2). Broue attended Sydney Technical High School in 1913, after receiving a scholarship that provided him priority admission to a Public High School, as well as a grant of textbooks for four years (3). He excelled academically, ranking 3rd amongst his peers in the second term of his first year at school. In addition, Broue was the recipient of an award at the 1913 Speech Day for his academic excellence in his year at Sydney Technical High School. (4) Prior to his enlistment into the Australian Imperial Force, Broue worked as a dental mechanic.

Broue enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on the 14th of May, 1918, leaving behind his parents and siblings. He departed for the warfront two months later on the 17th of July, 1918 on HMAT A30 Borda to England. Broue was a member of the 36th Heavy Artillery Group, 19th Reinforcements, with the rank of Gunner (5). While training in England the war ended. He proceeded overseas to France on 28th January 1919 to assist with the clean-up.

Broue survived the war, and returned to Australia on the 22nd of July, 1919(8). A few years following his return, Broue married Lorraine Johnson sometime in July of 1924. In the same year, Broue and his wife had a daughter by the name of Gretal Broue (9). Broue established a company with John Hemsworth Harding, operating under the name ‘Broue and Harding.’ The firm operated at 114 - 116 York Street, Sydney. The partnership was later dissolved on the 1st of October, 1931, with Broue operating the business by himself in the same location (10). The firm changed their name to ‘A. G. Broue and Co’ following the change in ownership. Sometime after this, Broue took on a new partner for his company; a man by the name of Guy Leo Chapple Flay. After operating for some time at the same location, Broue and Flay dissolved their partnership on the 21st of April, 1932, with Broue maintaining the business and continuing to operate under the same name, once again by himself (11). Within the same year, Adalbert Gurwood Broue had his second child; a son named Paul Broue, born 1932.

In June 1936, Adalbert Gurwood Broue and his wife, Lorraine Johnson, filed for divorced. Broue later remarried to Joyce Valda Gilmour in 1937, whom he remained with until his death (12). By the 1940s, Broue owned a chain of stores that sold electrical goods, with his main office being located at 481 Kent Street, Sydney. In addition, Broue was in possession of a warehouse in Waterloo (13).

Adalbert Gurwood Broue passed away at Glouchester House, Sydney on the 26th of June 1949, at the age of 49. The cause of his death is unknown (14). His death was recorded in the Sydney Morning Herald on the 28th of June 1949, where he is described as the “dearly beloved husband of Joyce Valda and loving father of Gretal and Paul.”  A memorial to him is located in the Northern Suburbs Memorial Garden and Crematorium, forever memorialising his life (15). He is commemorated on the Sydney Technical College Roll of Honour.

References:

1. UNSW, Adalbert Gurwood Broue Records 1900-1949. AIF Project.
2. Ibid
3. Anonymous, 1913. Adalbert Gurwood Broue 1900-1949. Sydney Morning Herald.
4. Anonymous, 1913. Adalbert Gurwood Broue 1900-1949. Honour Board Project. 1913 Speech Day.
5. Anonymous, 1918. Adalbert Gurwood Broue Documents 1900-1949. Australian Imperial Force. Google Drive.
6. Steve Larkins, 2014. 36th Heavy Artillery Group Records 1915-1918. Virtual War Memorial Australia.
7. Anonymous. Adalbert Gurwood Broue Records, 1900-1949. Virtual War Memorial Australia.
8. Anonymous. Adalbert Gurwood Broue Records 1900-1949. Discovering Anzacs. National Archives of Australia.
9. Anonymous, 1936. Adalbert Gurwood Broue 1900-1949. Sydney Morning Herald.
10. Anonymous, 16th October 1931. Adalbert Gurwood Broue 1900-1949. Sydney Morning Herald.
11. Anonymous, 13th May 1932. Adalbert Gurwood Broue 1900-1949. Sydney Morning Herald.
12. Anonymous, 15th August 1936. Adalbert Gurwood Broue 1900-1949. Sydney Morning Herald.

Bibliography:

Ken Stevenson, Research on Google Drive.

The AIF Project, UNSW (2024) - Adalbert Gurwood Broue 1900-1949: https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=34047 

The Virtual War Memorial Australia - Adalbert Gurwood Broue Records 1900-1949: 

https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/244906

The National Archives of Australia - Adalbert Gurwood Broue Records:

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3131428