BRETT, Alfred John
| Service Number: | 2875 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 December 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 31st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Sussex, England, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Tuncester, Lismore Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Convent School, Hellingly, Sussex, England |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Bronchitis and Asthma, France, 21 December 1916, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre Div. 3, Row B, Grave 13, Ste Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, Haute-Normandie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2875, 31st Infantry Battalion |
|---|
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Alfred BRETT, (Service Number 2875) was born in Sussex in 1887, and as a ‘navvy …accustomed to any kind of labouring’ emigrated to NSW under the auspices of the British Immigration League in 1913. He joined the NSWGR as a fettler in 1914, and when he first enlisted at Lismore in August 1915 was stationed at Leycester Siding, near Tuncester.
In November 1915 he was reported to have deserted from the Thompson’s Paddock Camp, Enoggera, Brisbane, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. In fact, he had travelled to Sydney, enlisting on 6 December at Casula as ‘Alfred John Brett’.
Embarked at Sydney in March 1916, he was admitted to hospital in Egypt in June and treated for venereal disease. In June 1916 he proceeded to France and joined his battalion in the field in August, but in December was sent sick to hospital. He died of bronchitis in the No. 2 General Hospital at Havre, on 21 December 1916, and was buried at Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre.
(NAA B2455-3118813 and 3118817)
Submitted 11 May 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Alfred and Rebecca BREET of Lower Dicker, Susex, England
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