Brewer Street in Burnett Heads is named for William James Brewer who was local to Burnett Heads and served in the First World War.
Bundaberg Regional Council records indicate Brewer Street was so named prior to 1937, and under Council’s Streets of Remembrance Program, it now bears the rising sun badge of the Australian Army in honour of Private Brewer’s service.
William was born in Bundaberg to Sarah and James Brewer, who also had a daughter Evelyn.
The Brewer family was local to Burnett Heads and William attended Burnett Heads State School as a child.
William was unmarried and working as a labourer when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 10 March 1916, aged 20 years and 10 months.
World War I service
William was enlisted in the 15th Australian Infantry Battalion and undertook training in Queensland before his unit embarked from Brisbane on board A50 ‘Itonus’ for Plymouth, which arrived on 18 October 1916.
In December 1916, William’s unit left Folkestone, England on SS ‘Arundel’ and joined the 15th Battalion at Etaples, France on 17 December 1916.
William was wounded in action at Bullecourt, France, suffering a gunshot wound to his left arm on 14 April 1917.
He was admitted to No.1 General Hospital in France before returning to England on HS ‘Lydia’ for further treatment at a military hospital.
He was furloughed and reported to Perham Downs in June 1917 before returning to rejoin the unit in France in August.
William was killed in action on 29 March 1918 at Hebuterne, France, in the basin of the River Somme.
He was 23 years old.
Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau files in the Australian War Memorial records contain this account of William’s death from Sergeant J.W. Shevelling of 15th Battalion:
“Brewer was killed a couple of days after Ellis and Dixon at Hebuterne. I buried him on the left hand side of the Street in an orchard opposite the green pond, further up the Street than the Town Square looking towards the Church. Cross was erected. I was Pioneer Sgt.”
William was laid to rest in Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps, 6.5 miles from Albert, France.
His grave reads “Son of the late James Key Brewer and Sarah Brewer. Native of Burnett Heads, Bundaberg, Queensland”, with a cross and a personal inscription from his family that reads “THE LORD GAVE AND THE LORD HATH TAKEN AWAY.”
William’s personal effects of a wallet, two letters, photos, and cards were returned to his mother Sarah.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal, which were given to his sister Evelyn Gibson of Trevose Farm Burnett Heads, along with a memorial plaque in May 1922.
Private William James Brewer served in the 15th Australian Infantry Battalion from 10 March 1916 to 29 March 1918.
He is remembered on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Barolin State School Honour Roll, Bundaberg War Memorial, and Burnett Heads War Memorial.
Service Number: 5990
Information on Private Brewer’s life and service is from the National Archives of Australia, Australian War Memorial, Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Virtual War Memorial.
Streets of Remembrance Program
Bundaberg Regional Council’s Streets of Remembrance recognises the service of veterans with a connection to the Bundaberg Region by adding the badge of the military force in which they served to the street sign of streets named in their honour.
More information about Bundaberg Regional Council’s Streets of Remembrance program and how to nominate a street or service person is available here.
