William Thomas Brett

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Wed, 13/07/2016 - 10:29

First Name:

William

Middle Name:

Thomas

Last Name:

Brett

Mother's Name:

Ellen Brett nee Gavin

Father's Name:

John Brett

Date Enlisted:

Sunday, September 12, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Acting Sergeant

Rank at Discharge:

Sergeant

Unit:

19th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

Meritorious Service Medal

Mention in Despatches

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Thursday, March 3, 1949

Place of Death:

Lithgow, N.S.W.

Details:

William Brett (Service No 4977) was born in Wollongong, N.S.W. around 1892.

At enlistment William was single, 23 year, old, worked as a paymaster, and lived in Balgownie, N.S.W. William had served 2 years with the Senior Cadets.

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A31 Ajana with 13th Reinforcements, 19th Battalion on 5th July 1916. The troops arrived in England on 31st August 1916 and William joined 19th Battalion in France on 21st October 1916. He saw service on the Western Front with 19th Battalion until 5th August 1917 when he was transferred to 5th Brigade Headquarters.

He was admitted to hospital in France sick on 23rd April 1918 and returned to his unit on 7th May 1918.

William was recommended three times for the Mentioned in Despatches Award and was awarded a Mention in Despatches Award on 28th December 1917, and the Meritorious Service Medal on 3 June 1919.

William was returned to Australia in July 1919 and discharged medically unfit on 23rd October 1919.

In 1920 he married Jessie Martin at Newtown, Sydney, and the couple settled in Lithgow, N.S.W. with their 2 sons.

William died in Lithogow in 1949.

William's service is commemorated on the Balgownie War Memorial 1914-1918.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, BRETT W T