Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Albert Henry Bromley (1901 – 1959)

Born: 13 December 1901 – Wirrabara, South Australia

Died: 4 September 1959 – Adelaide, South Australia (aged 57)

Residence: Stepney, South Australia

Occupation: Labourer – Architect-in-Chief's Department

Burial: South Australia (exact location unconfirmed)

Early Life

Albert Henry Bromley was born on 13 December 1901 at Wirrabara, in the mid-north of South Australia. He was the youngest son of Frederick James Blackwood Bromley (1867–1904) and Susan (Fuller) Bromley (1864–1919).

His birth was registered in the Frome District (686/447). The Bromleys were among the pioneering families who settled around Mount Remarkable Station, where Albert spent his childhood amid wheat-farming and bush-timber communities.

Children of Frederick and Susan Bromley:

Edward James Bromley (1887–1887)
Frederick Bromley (1900–1965)
Albert Henry Bromley (1901–1959)

After the early death of his father in 1904, Albert helped support the household from a young age. He later worked in labouring and mechanical trades around the Flinders Ranges and Adelaide districts.

Marriage

On 4 August 1932, at the Registry Office, Adelaide, Albert married Elsie Girranungada Nancurda Naylon, daughter of Jimmy (Arupu-lendika) Naylon and Elizabeth (Karatjarni / Dandarangada) Naylon of Birdsville, Queensland.

Their marriage joined South Australian settler heritage with Elsie's strong Aboriginal lineage from the Dalhousie–Goyder Lagoon region.

They made their home in Stepney, near Adelaide's eastern fringe, where Albert was employed as a car washer and general labourer.

World War II Service – Lance Corporal A. H. Bromley (S37353)

Service Number: S37353

Rank on Discharge: Lance Corporal

Unit: 27th Australian Line of Communication Salvage Section

Date of Enlistment: 3 October 1941 – Keswick, SA

Date of Discharge: 27 November 1945

War Badge No.: 320295

Authority: A.M.R. & O. 253A (1)(N)

File Reference: NAA B884 S37353

At 39 years of age, Albert enlisted at Keswick Barracks on 3 October 1941. He was a labourer and car washer by trade and named his wife Elsie Bromley of Stepney as next of kin. He joined the 22nd Line of Communication Salvage Section, soon redesignated the 27th Aust. L. of C. Salvage Section—a home-service unit responsible for recovering, repairing, and recycling military equipment and materials for re-use.

Service Summary

1941 – 42: Posted to Loveday POW Camp (Barmera District) for salvage operations; promoted Lance Corporal 3 Feb 1942.
1942 – 43: Transferred to the 27th Salvage Section; conducted logistical recovery across South Australia.
1943 – 45: Served in the Northern Territory, including Adelaide River, attached to HQ 7 Salvage Depot, supporting engineers and supply convoys.

He was consistently rated "Proficient – Conduct: Good", receiving proficiency pay and no disciplinary entries.

Demobilisation

Albert was honourably discharged on 27 November 1945, after more than four years of active home service. His war badge No. 320295 was issued in recognition of that duty.

Post-War Correspondence and Veteran Status

In 1954 Albert sought membership in the Returned Sailors', Soldiers' and Airmen's Imperial League of Australia (R.S.S. & A.I.L.A.). The League queried the Central Army Records Office for verification.

Army Records confirmed his postings at HQ 7 Salvage Depot (1 Sep 1943 – 24 Nov 1943) and the 27th Aust. L. of C. Salvage Section (25 Nov 1943 – 10 Nov 1945) but advised that his service—classified as Citizen Military Forces (CMF) within Australia—did not qualify for RSL membership under post-war rules.

Albert's courteous handwritten letter of 10 December 1955 from 6 Union Street, Stepney, requested confirmation of his "Adelaide River service with the 27th L. of C. Salvage Company." The Army's reply commended his record while restating the restriction.

These files show a man of quiet pride who valued his wartime contribution and carefully preserved his papers long after demobilisation.

Sudden Passing (1959)

On Friday 4 September 1959, Albert collapsed at his workplace—the Architect-in-Chief's Department, Victoria Place, Adelaide—after complaining of chest pains.

Colleagues William Hacon and George Hetherington tried to assist before medical help arrived, but he was pronounced dead at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

The City Coroner's Report recorded:

Albert Henry Bromley, 57 years, Labourer of 5 Magill Road, Stepney – Cause of Death Unable to State.

He was described by co-workers as "Bert Bromley – a steady, good-humoured man of quiet strength."

Legacy

Though he never served overseas, Albert Bromley's work within Australia's logistical network was vital to the war effort. His salvage and recovery duties supported the supply lines that sustained troops across the continent's north.

He represents the thousands of men whose unheralded labour kept Australia's defences functioning during the Second World War.

Sources

South Australian Birth Index (1901 Frome 686/447)
South Australian Marriage Index (1932 Adelaide 331/114)
South Australian Death Index (1959 Adelaide 897/6072 Symbol H)
National Archives of Australia – Service Record B884 S37353
World War II Nominal Roll – L/Cpl A. H. Bromley S37353
Coroner's Report, City Watch House (4 Sep 1959)
Central Army Records Office Correspondence (1954–1955)
Private family notes and oral history records

Biography by Trevor Pyatt 10/10/2025