Name
Arthur Henry (Harry) Brewster
1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/03/1918
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
16499
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 28 and 29.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Poziers Memorial in France to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Broxbourne Town Memorial, St Augustine’s Church Memorial, Broxbourne, St Augustine's Church Memorial, Hoddesdon (*1)
Pre War
Arthur Henry BREWSTER was born in 1896, in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, son of Arthur Brewster a Railway Signalman with the Great Eastern Railway Company, and Harriett Brewster (nee Jermy), Arthur was Harriet's second husband, her first husband Edward Munford died in 1888, Arthur and Harriett married in 1891.
1901 Census records Arthur Jr. aged 4, at school, living with his parents, half-brother Francis Mumford (18), sister Florence (8) at 10 Admirals Walk, North Side, Hoddesdon, Herts.
1911 Census, Arthur Jr. (14), has left school and is working as a Paper Boy, living with his parents, Half-brother Francis Mumford and sister Florence, still living in Admirals Walk, Hoddesdon.
Wartime Service
Arthur Jr. travelled to the County town of Hertford to enlist, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment, issued with the service number 16499. On completion of his training he was sent to France, arriving on 27th April 1915, promoted to Lance corporal, Arthur Jr. was killed in Action on 22nd March 1918, at the Battle of St. Quentin, (Battle of St. Quentin 21st – 23rd March 1918, part of the Second Battle of the Somme 21st March to 5th April 1918). He has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, in France, to the missing. Panel 28 & 29.
At the second Battle of the Somme, the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, fought almost to the last man trying to stop the German advance.
Additional Information
His father Arthur received a Dependents Pension of 5/- a week from 22nd November 1918, and his effect of £22-02-01, which including his pay owing and his war gratuity.
*1 An H Brewster appears on the St Augustine's Church Memorial, Hoddesdon, currently we believe this to be the A H Brewster appearing on other local memorials.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Richard Barber, Malcolm Lennox
