Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
Edmund G. Brewer letters and postcards, 1916-1917
MLMSS 9269 / Folder 4
[Page 1]
[Lieutenant, later Captain, Edmund Gregan Brewer, 29, soldier, of Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Queensland, embarked from Sydney on 5 June 1916 on HMAT A30 Borda with the 42nd Infantry Battalion, B Company. He served in France. He was tried by Court Martial in the Field in July 1917 for drunkenness and escaping from arrest and was dismissed from service. He returned to Australia in October 1917.]
[Page 2]
[Reverse of postcard on previous page.]
On Active Service
F. J. Brewer Esq.
c/o Telegraph Newspaper.
Queen St
Brisbane
Queensland
Australia
Did you receive cable O.K. Sent from me here on arrival
Trust you are well remember me to Mr. Lewis.
Ed.
[Page 3]
[Postcard]
[Page 4]
[Reverse of postcard on previous page.]
On Active Service
Mrs. M. J Brewer
C/o Main St & Shafton Rd
Kangaroo Point Brisbane
Queensland
Australia
‘B’ Coy. 42nd Battn.
11th Infantry Brigade
3rd Australian Division
Dear Mater
Am keeping well.
letters following
These cards are some views
Eddie
10/7/16
[Page 5]
[Postcard photograph of Edmund Brewer.]
From your Loving Son
Eddie
France
1/4/17
[Page 6]
[Reverse of postcard photograph.]
To dear Mother
With the best of wishes
From
Ed
[Page 8]
[Reverse of postcard on previous page.]
France
8/1/17
Dear Frank
The picture on the front is replica of what we are doing to Fritz’s trenches with our mortars. Every day we give him some to keep him busy. He does not love us. I can assure you.
Am keeping well and in the best of condition
Things generally here are good. Can’t say much. We are giving Fritz hell
Your affect Bro
Eddie
[Page 10]
[Reverse of postcard on previous page.]
To Dad
With love from Eddie
Egypt
10/7/16
[Page 11]
[Four pages of a letter from Edmund Brewer to his sister Tess: pages 1,2,5 and 6.
France
14/2/17
Dearest Tess.
Dearest Tess your ever welcome letter reached me a few days ago while I was doing a spell in the trenches (dated 26/12/16). The night your letter reached me there was a bonzer bombardment on. We were handing it out to Fritz my little guns were going some firing about 25 shells per minute.
Fritz of course couldn’t stand too much so he began to slug stuff back and things were just about as lively as they could be for awhile. There was just one continuous stream of shells flying through the air and a most terrific din. It sounded something like this.
– Whiz whiz bang whiz whurr bang bang bang splosh big bang whiz bang bang bang bang whurr bang bang whiz bang a H[dash] of a big bang. more bang and whiz, ping ping ping ping ping ping ping ping bang whiz bang ping bang whurr whurr whurr bang bang great big bang whiz bang.
Read the above over first and then rattle it off just as quick as
[Page 12]
[Page 2 of letter.]
you can and possible you will get a faint idea of the terrific row and noise
It is a wonderful experience to go through one of these bombardments, but a fellow gets so used to them that I can now sleep through the whole box of tricks and never hear a sound. Things get some hot at times.
I have heard our fellows betting on shells that will dud (that is not go off). In the middle of a show I heard a fellow making a book betting on the duds “6 to 4 she a dud who’ll take me, 8 to 2 she’ll dud anyone take the odds.’ It is funny at times. There are
[Page 13]
[Page 5 of letter.]
the Roma girl quietly she is getting a bit too keen on things I have had several letters from her. but am not answering too suddenly, and pretty cold ones then.
I got a letter from Will and he told me all about the fancy dress ball, he also mentioned that it took a couple of whiskeys to get him to enter the dance hall. I can imagine the smile on the double lip as he was shuffling in feeling I suppose “a damn fool" He reckons the old tarts present gave him a grand time.
Frank & Will are lucky to be getting holidays I could do with one myself just now but there does not seem to be much chance. I am sending you out with this a cutting from the paper giving a description of a raid, by the canadians, just insert the the old Battn name I used to belong to, and you will have the particulars of one carried out by the Battn. Do you remember that fine chap I introduced you
[Page 14]
[Page 6 of letter.]
to at the Battn Sports at Ennoggera, Dick May you remember, poor chap died of wounds a few days ago he got pretty badly knocked about. Capt Moyes, Frank knows him was leaning on his shoulder when it happened both of them were looking out of a dug out when a shell exploded and got poor old Dick. Moyes had a marvellous escape, Just missed it. I was talking to Moyes about it next morning Poor old Moyes was very much shaken, Fortunately for me I have one of the good jobs, which do not necessitate my being in the line
[This letter seems to continue on pages 21 and 22.]
[Lieutenant Richard William May, 39, bank manager of Kilcoy, Queensland, embarked from Brisbane, then Sydney on 5 June 1916 on HMAT A30 Borda with A Company, 42nd Battalion. He died of wounds in France on 12 February 1917.
Captain Moyes: probably Captain, later Major, Aubrey Clyde Moyes MC, military officer of Victoria Barracks, Brisbane, who embarked from Sydney on 18 May 1916 on HMAT A64 Demosthenes with 11th infantry Brigade Headquarters.]
[Page 15]
France
18/3/17.
Dearest Mother.
Letters received from yourself Tess & Dad and was pleased to hear you were all well. I think you did the best thing when you sold the furniture provided of course you got a decent price for it. Have you decided on a new house, I suppose now house rent is fairly reasonable, if things are not too good let me know & I will increase the allotment, and give you a bit more assistance.
We are seeing quite a large portion of the Western Front and things are considerably better here. there is an improvement all round. Unfortunately I cannot say much about what we are doing and as there is little else to write about this letter will necessarily be brief.
I am sorry to hear Frank has enlisted, I would much rather he had remained, but of course he knows what he wishes to do.
I have been to a school of instruction in Stokes Mortars and got a pretty good pass, 'Good Qualified Instructor’
[Page 16]
I could have done better but I wanted a rest and treated the School as such. Did not bother about study but got as much rest out of the job as possible. I enjoyed the rest and met wuite a number of very decent chaps and generally we managed to knock out a fairly good time between us. I met some English Jonnies who were really god fellows and quite different to those one comes in contact with
[Page 17]
in England. We are doing pretty well here and making old Fritz sit up and take notice of us, we give him a good shaking up and naturally he objects to it.
I am keeping wonderfully well and have not had even a cold since we have been over this side. I could do with a bit of leave though it would be quite a boon, there does not seem to be much prospect of any at present but I suppose it will come along in due course.
I met Harry Donovan to day, he is on the medical staff here and having a nice quiet time. I also met Clive Miller, Denison Miller’s son and we had quite a long chat over Waverley and old times, nearly all the fellows are over this side, it is wonderful who one does meet here
We are getting pretty good news every day here and
[Captain Harry Carysfort Edmond Donovan, 34, medical practitioner of Randwick, NSW, embarked from Sydney on 11 May 1916 on HMAT A8 Argyllshire with the 9th Field Ambulance.
Driver Clive lancelot Miller, 26, stockbroker of Coogee, NSW, embarked from Sydney on 18 October 1914 on HMAT A8 Argyllshire with 3rd Battery, 1 Field Artillery Brigade.]
[Page 18]
if things go on as they are going at present this war should not last very much longer, although Fritz has a good bit of fight left in him yet. I went through a pretty heavy bombardment not long ago, and was very pleased when it was over I can assure you it was something fierce and I was right in the thick of it. I will tell you
[Page 19]
all about it when I get home as I cannot say much now. It was about the heaviest bombardment I have passed through and I have been in one or two.
The weather here is very nice now and in a few more weeks things should look well. Would you believe me when I tell you that the old farmers here are cultivating the ground 2’000 yds in rear of the front line. I simply roared laughing at an old chap ploughing the other day. He had been at the job since early morning and was camly walking after the plough when five whiz bang shells whistled round. He left horse & plough and I reckon beat the worlds record for a hundred yards, making for cover. If I could only describe the incident as it appeared it would absolutely make you laugh.
[Page 20]
I enjoyed the fun but the poor old farmer jabbered excited french to me and I had no idea what he was talking about. so I said “that’s all right old fellow, and began to laugh, he cooled off then and went back and unhitched his horses for the day. He had had enough.
Well dear Mother there is nothing more I can write about so I will end now. I hope all are well. Very fondest love & kisses to yourself Tess & dad & the boys, From ever your loving boy
Eddie
[Page 21]
[Pages 21 and 22 are pages 7 and 8 of a letter from Edmund Brewer to his sister Tess, possibly a further part of the partial letter on pages 11 to 14.]
[Page 7 of letter.
at all times. I generally keep well under cover when anything is doing except of course when it is necessary for me to be there. I have been through a few shows and they are lively I can tell you. However do not worry about me I am looking after No 1.
Capt Binnie got shell shock and is at present in hospital, and a few others have been injured but so far only one officer in my old Battn has been put out for keeps. The Battn has been lucky in that respect.
Fred Lewis is well and getting along O.K. still has plenty to say, Fred is a pretty good sort and doing his job well.
So mary B is not married yet it certainly looks as though Daw is a laggard, mary shall have to get the spurs on to bring him up to the scratch. I am in billets to night, all the big guns are firing like blazes evidently something is doing up the line to night. They shake the whole place when they go off. No windows left in this town.
I got the tin, it came from Rowes is that the one, contains a plum pudding, cake and some sweets
[Lieutenant, later Captain David Johnston Binnie, 29, civil servant of Rosewood, Queensland, embarked from Sydney on 5 June 1916 on HMAT A30 Borda with the 42nd Infantry Battalion.
Fred Lewis: probably Lieutenant Frederic George Lewis, 29, bank clerk of Toowoomba, Queensland, who embarked from Sydney on 5 June 1916 on HMAT A30 Borda with the 42nd Infantry Battalion, D Company.]
[Page 22]
[Page 8 of letter.]
They came in very hand[y] the pudding was OK and went well, all we wanted with it was a bit of custard. I have not yet got the mittens. Up to the present I have received only 2 parcels, the others will in all probability turn up, they take an awful long time to get here but eventually arrive.
Well dear old Tess I think I have exhausted the stock of news. I cannot give you any details of military matters if I could reading would be interesting.
Well I will now wish you good night I think I missed the last mail with a letter. Are you getting the things I am sending out O.K.
Fondest love to yourself Mother Dad & the boys.
Kisses to yourself & mum from your Bro. Eddie
[Page 23]
France
29.3.1917.
Dearest Tess.
By the last mail I sent one or two small things along to you, one being a kind of silk work business. At present there is a fair amount of this stuff about but in future I think it will die out. This particular work has only been commenced since the war to employ many of the refugees so I think it will be worth keeping. Also the post card of the church it is the same class of work and the stuff rather appealed to me, perhaps you may like it. I am carting a few curios about with me, unfortunately I cannot carry much stuff owing to the limited space allowed to us, but I am picking up various little articles which I think are of some little [v]alue.
I had my photo taken to day, the photographer is a lad and his work is not too good but still it is better than nothing so if they turn out anything like decent I shall send some along. Have you received a table cloth affair which I sent you in December, it was a particularly good one and I registered it to make sure that it would reach you so when writing be sure and let me know if you are getting the things I send along. I always write and advise you of things I am
[Page 24]
Sending so that you may inquire for them if they do not come to hand.
I suppose I shall be seeing Frank over here soon, I hope he has taken my advice and joined the ASC or one of those units which do not get right up. Much the best. I would try and get something like that if I had my chance over again. Too much work in the other jobs. a fellow wants to get a job where he can see something of the country. With the line people mud is about the daily view and one gets rather tired of it.
I am keeping splendidly well, have hardly had a days sickness since I have been on the job, the life seems to agree with me although at times things get a bit rough.
There is practically no news of any consequence and routine is practically the same daily turn out, so I have nothing much to write about.
This is just a line to let you know I’m well and still keeping my good job.
I wrote to Herb Ezzy a while ago I though perhaps he would be pleased to hear from me, he wasn’t a bad sort so I decided I would write him a line just to let him know
[Page 25]
I was still knocking about the country.
Have you yet settled on a house and has mother decided to furnish it. I suppose you will still remain at K. P. [Kangaroo Point] there is no doubt it is the best part of Brisbane. Let me know all about what you are doing when you write again as I like to hear. Will you send me Aunt Christies address I have not the faintest idea what it is so cannot write to her. Tell Dad I shall be sending him some papers per this mail, all English of course, I have sent out a few French ones but I suppose poor old Dad will look over his specks at them. How is everybody keeping all well I hope.
I have a bit of a credit saved upon my pay book and am now looking forward to a bit of leave but so far there has not been the slightest whisper about it, we have had 4 months of it now so reckon there should be something doing in the leave line soon.
Well dear Tess I am just about exhausted for news so I must perforce draw to a close
I trust all are well and in the best of health. Remember me to Mary Butcher, I suppose she will
[Page 26]
soon be Mrs Daw.
Well good night Tess. I am just going to turn in.
Fondest love & kisses to yourself & mother, love to Dad & Will, and to Frank if he has not yet left.
From
Your Loving Brother
Eddie
[Page 27]
[Pages 27 and 28 are part of a letter (pages 1 and 6). Page 6 is written on the back of page 1.]
France
13/4/17
Dear Father
Letters received from Mother dated 13/2/17 wishing me many happy returns of to morrow also one dated 23/2/17 acknowledging receipt of articles I sent out. One dated 2/2/17 and one from Tess dated 2/2/17
I received all these letters by the one mail. I will go through them in order and answer any questions etc. Tell Mum I am glad she likes the scarf it was not quite as good as I might have got but unfortunately at the time I did not have the necessary to purchase a more expensive one.
Will was very lucky to get a trip to Sydney I wish
[Page 28]
[Page 6 of the letter that begins on page 27.]
us all scuttle to the boroughs when Fritz chucks over a shrapnel. Talk about a rush for early doors. Why we get jammed in the Doorways getting in. Laugh I just roared the other day 3 fellows were trying to push in a small opening which would normally admit one sideways, naturally they got jammed and had to untangle before they could successfully negotiate the entrance.
There are some humourous
[Page 29]
[Typed letter on the letterhead of the Australian Imperial Force, Administrative Headquarters, A.I.F., 130 Horseferry Road, London SW1.]
[Marked: Secret]
25th August 1917.
Ex Capt. E. G. Brewer,
Late 3rd Divisional Artillery
A.I.F.
You [are] required to proceed by the train leaving Paddin[gton] on the 27th instant at 10.15 a.m. for Plymoth [where] you will embark for Australia.
You [must] not under any circumstances, without permission [from] these Headquarters, travel to the Port of Embarkat[ion] in any other train than that on which you are instru[cted] to proceed.
The necessary Railway Warrant is attached hereto.
The order restricting the conveyance of passengers luggage to 100 lbs does not apply as regards your journey to the Port of Embarkation.
F. N. Laird Lt.
for
Staff Captain.
for A.Q.M.G.
[Sergeant, later Honorary Lieutenant, Frederick Nicholas Laird, No 83, 34, indentor of Melbourne, embarked from Melbourne on 26 August 1915 on HMAT A68 Anchises with the Army Pay Corps, 4th Reinforcements.]
[Transcribed by Barbara Manchester for the State Library of New South Wales]