Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"For King and Country. LATE PTE. ROBERT BREWSTER. 

Word has been received from the military authorities of the death of Pte. Robert Brewster, second son of Mrs. and the late Robert Brewster, of Kapunda, from gunshot wounds on July 31, somewhere in France. The deceased soldier was born and educated in Kapunda, and was then employed for a year or so in Messrs. Hawke & Co.'s foundry, but relinquished this to go droving for Mr. S. Kidman. He followed this employment for some years, and then took the position of head stockman on Yandama Station, in the Milparinka and Tibboburra district, and enlisted from there. He went into camp in May, 1916, and sailed on August 12, 1916. On his arrival in England he was transferred to the 43rd Battalion and went to France about the beginning of December, and had been with the battalion right through. He was 30 years of age, and died as he lived, doing his duty, neither asking nor seeking any reward, but letting his work speak for itself." - from the Kapunda Herald 17 Aug 1917 (nla.gov.au)

Father Robert Brewster (b. 1840 - d. 24/1/1890) and
Mother Mary Harris Brewster (nee McLaren)
(b. 1852 in Scotland - d. 31/12/1930 Kapunda, SA)
he lived with his mother and siblings at Maxwell Street, Kapunda, SA prior to enlisting.
(both parents are buried in Kapunda Cemetery, Kapunda, South Australia)

Siblings:
Jessie Dermody (nee Brewster)  b. 12/03/1883 - d. 19/05/1954 Kapunda, SA
  m. 12/09/1916 William Patrick Dermody
       (b. 01/09/1887 - Allendale North, SA - d. 17/09/1931 Tapley's Hill, SA)
John Brewster  b. 10/06/1885 Kapunda - d. 13/08/1964 Daw Park, SA
   m. ___ Clara Brewster
William Brewster  b. 23/06/1888 Kapunda - d. 21/08/1968 Adelaide, SA
   m. 11/12/1920  Cora Kay Brewster (nee Trestrail) Methodist Church Prospect North, SA
   b. Cora - 03/05/1890 Williamstown, SA
Alice Sorrell (nee Brewster)  b. 02/03/1890 Kapunda, SA - d. 03/07/1971 Hazelwood Park, SA
  m. Harry Randolph Sorrell
  b.  Harry - 06/01/1887 Norwood, SA - d. 02/12/1970 Hazelwood Park, SA

Next of kin in service  (brother):
Private 3769 John Brewster - 32nd Infantry Battalion
Next of kin Wife, Mrs Clara Brewster, Kapunda, South Australia
15/08/1916   enlisted into WWI
21/09/1916   embarked Outer Harbour, SA onboard HMAT A73 Commonwealth
                    as a Private with 32nd Battalion, 9th Reinforcement
08/04/1917   returned to Australia
Last lived at 26 Marion Place, Prospect, SA
13/08/1964   passed away
cremated in: Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasadena, SA
                    RSL, Wall 136, Niche D002
                   

Robert was described on enlisting as 28 years 4 months of age; single; 5' 6" tall;
137 lbs; fair complexion; blue eyes; brown hair; Congregational

04/05/1916  enlisted into WWI at Broken Hill, NSW
                   place of enlisting Adelaide, SA

19/05/1916  appointed to 'A' Company, 2nd Depot Battalion

12/08/1916  embarked Outer Harbour, SA onboard HMAT A70 Ballarat
                   as a Private with 50th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement
30/09/1915  disembarked into Plymouth, England

30/09/1915  marched into Codford, England

25/10/1916  taken on strength of 43rd Infantry Battalion, England

25/11/1916  proceeded overseas to France, ex Southampton

19/03/1917  sick to hospital in the field, admitted to 9th Field Ambulance
27/03/1917  returned to duty in the field
31/03/1917  rejoined 43rd Infantry Battalion

05/04/1917  sick with furunculosis, admitted to 9th Field Ambulance
07/04/1917  rejoined 43rd Infantry Battalion

31/07/1917  received gun shot wound to abdomen, received in action at Warneton, France
                   admitted to 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, Messines, France
                   later same day, died of these wounds

buried in:     Trois-Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck, France
                   Plot I, Row V, Grave 25

His name is commemorated on:
- Panel 136 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT
- Kapunda War Memorial, located on corner of South Terrace & Kapunda Street, Kapunda, SA
- at his parents grave in Kapunda Cemetery, South Australia

Medals:        British War medal (44885) and Victory medal (44375)
                   Memorial Plaque and Scroll (328331)

Submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  30/04/2017.  Lest we forget.