COMING SOON...
Albert John
BREWSTER
1925 - 1945
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Early Life
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ALBERT JOHN BREWSTER (known as ‘JOHN’) was born on the 19 July 1925 in Great Waltham, the fourth of seven children, and the second eldest son of David and Alice Mary Brewster (née Matthams), who were married at Great Waltham Parish Church on the 8 May 1909.
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David was a Hay binder at the time of his marriage. When Albert was born, his father was a farm labourer.
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Their first child was Elsie May, b. 8 Oct 1914, another daughter followed, Margaret Ethel, who was b.29 March 1917 and then their first son, Charles David was born on the 23 December 1919. Doris Nell, was b. 1922 and following Albert’s birth, Frederick Marcus, b.14 Dec 1926 and Joan Frances, b. Mar 1932. The family lived at Lake View Cottages, Minnow Mead. Great Waltham.
Albert was baptised in the village church on the 9 August 1925 and he attended the local village school.
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​ BAPTISM OF ALBERT JOHN BREWSTER
PARISH CHURCH, GREAT WALTHAM, 9 AUGUST 1925
In May 1938, when he was 12 years old he received four strokes of the cane for 'talking in Assembly after a verbal warning'.
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Military
Albert, aka John, enlisted as a Private into the Royal Scots Regiment, (The Royals Regiment) 8th Battalion, Regimental No. 14733428 in about 1941. The 8th Battalion was one of four newly formed Battalions of the Kings own in February 1940. In April 1940 they joined the British Expeditionary Force in France and Belgium, with the aim of assisting with construction of defensive works.
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Death and Memorial
Albert John is also remembered on the Great Waltham War Memorial.