CSM
Charles Frederick Brewster
Information about birth
|
Date of birth: 24/08/1887 |
|
Place of birth: Landour, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British Raj |
General information
|
Profession: Professional Soldier |
Army information
|
Country: England, United Kingdom |
|
Force: British Expeditionary Force |
|
Rank: Company Sergeant Major |
|
Service number: 7772 |
|
Enlistment place: Swaffham, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom |
|
Units: — Lincolnshire Regiment, 10th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 21/10/1917 |
|
Place of death: Solferino Farm, Belgium |
|
Cause of death: Died of wounds (D.O.W.) |
|
Age: 30 |
Cemetery
|
Solferino Farm Cemetery Plot: I Row: C Grave: 3 |
Distinctions and medals 3
|
British War Medal Medal |
|
Military Medal Medal |
|
Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Charles Frederick Brewster was born in 1887 in Landour, British Raj, at the foot of the Western Himalayas. He was the son of a professional soldier stationed in India. By 1891 the Brewster family had moved back to Norfolk. Charles followed in his father’s footsteps and became a soldier. In 1911 he was serving as a sergeant in the 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment in Arabia, Cyprus, and Gibraltar. Back in England Charles married Minnie Laura Marks in Lincoln, Lincolnshire in 1913. They had two children together; Charles Frederick and Vera Agnes.
By the time of the Battle of Passchendaele, Charles was a Company Sergeant Major in the 10th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, part of the 101st Brigade, of the 34th Division.
At the beginning of October 1917, the 10th Battalion was billeted near Arras. On the 7th of October they entrained for the Ypres salient. Two days later the 10th Lincolns were already repairing roads at the village of Langemark. Not even two miles further down the road, British troops had just tried to push further east towards Passchendaele. The men worked on the road, under heavy shelling. Seven men were killed and 18 were wounded. Work on the roads continued the next two days. And though German shelling decreased, four men got wounded.
The 10th Lincolns remained in billets from 12 till 15 October. When German aeroplanes bombed their camp on the 13th, one man was killed and two were wounded.
On the 17th Charles’ Battalion moved up to Candle Trench, near the hamlet of Pilkem. Two days later they went into support at Kortebeek Farm, where they relieved the 23rd Northumberland Fusiliers. After a good day in support, the 10th Lincolns were relieved by the 11th Suffolks, and moved back to Candle Trench. While in Candle Trench and at Kortebeek Farm on 20 and 21 October 1917, the battalion suffered several casualties, due to shelling.
Charles Frederick Brewster, died of wounds on the 21st of October 1917, leaving behind a young family. The 30-year-old was evacuated to a dressing station, but succumbed to his wounds. Charles was buried in Solferino Farm Cemetery.
By the time of the Battle of Passchendaele, Charles was a Company Sergeant Major in the 10th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, part of the 101st Brigade, of the 34th Division.
At the beginning of October 1917, the 10th Battalion was billeted near Arras. On the 7th of October they entrained for the Ypres salient. Two days later the 10th Lincolns were already repairing roads at the village of Langemark. Not even two miles further down the road, British troops had just tried to push further east towards Passchendaele. The men worked on the road, under heavy shelling. Seven men were killed and 18 were wounded. Work on the roads continued the next two days. And though German shelling decreased, four men got wounded.
The 10th Lincolns remained in billets from 12 till 15 October. When German aeroplanes bombed their camp on the 13th, one man was killed and two were wounded.
On the 17th Charles’ Battalion moved up to Candle Trench, near the hamlet of Pilkem. Two days later they went into support at Kortebeek Farm, where they relieved the 23rd Northumberland Fusiliers. After a good day in support, the 10th Lincolns were relieved by the 11th Suffolks, and moved back to Candle Trench. While in Candle Trench and at Kortebeek Farm on 20 and 21 October 1917, the battalion suffered several casualties, due to shelling.
Charles Frederick Brewster, died of wounds on the 21st of October 1917, leaving behind a young family. The 30-year-old was evacuated to a dressing station, but succumbed to his wounds. Charles was buried in Solferino Farm Cemetery.
Sources 4
|
Ancestry http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ Sources used |
|
CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/157143/brewster,-charles-frederick/ Sources used |
|
The long long trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
|
War Diaries http://www.nmarchive.com. Further reference |