BROMLEY, Albert Clive
| Service Number: | 4744 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 53rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Warren, New South Wales, Australia, January 1897 |
| Home Town: | Brewarrina, Brewarrina, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Railway Clerk |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery Plot I. Row A. Grave 7 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brewarrina Christ Church WW1 Memorial, Brewarrina Public School Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4744, Depot Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Mar 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4744, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 8 Mar 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4744, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Sydney | |
| 21 Apr 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 53rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4744, 53rd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4744 awm_unit: 53rd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-19 |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Albert Clive BROMLEY, (‘Bert’), (Service Number 4744) born in Warren in 1897, joined the NSWGR as a junior porter in the Orange District in 1912. In August 1915 he enlisted in the AIF at Brewarrina.
He was sent via Egypt to France, where he landed with his battalion in June 1916. He was reported missing in action on 19 July 1916. Although a Dubbo newspaper reported he was ‘shot dead by a sniper’, this does not appear in his military records, where nothing further is reported of him until in 1917 his identification disc was received from Germany. No further particulars were given until later the German authorities confirmed that he was killed in action on 19 July near Fromelles, and his disc had been removed by a German intelligence officer.
A photograph of him was hung in the Brewarrina Town Hall in 1917, inscribed ‘In memory of Albert Clive Bromley, late Lance-Corporal and Treasurer Brewarrina Town band, killed in action in France, July 1916, aged 19 years and six months. Erected by members of the Brewarrina Town Band as a tribute to the memory of a sterling Australian comrade.’ He had no known grave until, remarkably, in 2011 he became one of a small number of men whose remains were identified by DNA technology, forensic science and historical data as part of the Fromelles Project, and were re-interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery.
(NAA B2455-3128340)
Submitted 11 May 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Albert was19 years, and 6 months when he died, prior to enlisting he had been a railway clerk.
His brother 4903 Private Sidney Reginald Bromley also of the 53rd Battalion AIF was killed in action on the same day. Two eye witnesses stated in their respective Red Cross Files,
"...the soldier A.C.Bromley was killed by a bullet at Fleurbaix on No Man’s Land, he was quite close, and S.R.Bromley, the brother of the soldier, went to pick him up, and was also killed, both evidently by machine gun fire. The brothers were much alike, 5’10”, fair complexion, light brown hair, and were much attached to each other.” Another witness stated that “both were in A Coy, and that he knew them well, also that he was told by Sgt. Angus of A Coy that he had seen both these brothers killed by the same shell at Fleurbaix on July 19th. They were blown to pieces in No Man’s Land.”
Albert was remembered at VC Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France, Panel 7. His name appeared on a German death list dated 4 November 1916, stating that they had buried the soldier and he was on Lambis Englezos list of missing suspected to be buried at Pheasant Wood. His remains were identified and he was buried in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery on the 19th July 2011, 95 years after his death. Inscription on his gravestone now reads
LOVING SON OF SIDNEY AND ALICE, BROTHER OF STELLA, MAUDE, NELLIE, SIDNEY, HENRY, MONA AND ROY.
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
Brothers who died in the Great War by Frank Mahieu
REMEMBER ALBERT CLIVE BROMLEY, aged 19, and his brother SIDNEY REGINALD BROMLEY, aged 23. They both died on 19 July 1916 at the Battle of Fromelles, which was a diversionary attack for the Battle of the Somme. They both served with the 53rd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force (14th Bgd, 5th Division). They were the sons of Son of Sidney A. D. M. and Alice Louisa Bromley,, Waverley, New South Wales, Australia. Sidney lies in Ration Farm Military Cemetery at La Chapelle d'Armentières while Albert was commemorated at VC Corner Memorial at Fromelles, but since 2011 has been identified and is buried at the (new) Fromelles Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery. (some photos added inn this post of the 2011 rededication ceremony at Fromelles too). Albert and Sidney are commemorated at home at the Christ Church Anglican Church Brewarrina War Memorial. Brewarinna was the town where the family lived when the brothers enlisted.
Albert was born in Warren, New South Wales. He enlisted at Dubbo, NSW, on 3 August 1915, aged 18, with the
1st Battalion, 15th Reinforcements, 4744. Description: fair complexion, grey eyes, brown hair, 5 ft. 7 ½ inch tall (1m 71,5). Prior to enlistment he was a railway employee and had been a member of the Rifle Club.
Was with C Coy 9th battalion from 24 Aug till 16 Oct. 1915, subsequently with 3rd Btn. 13th Reinforcements till 7 Nov. 1915, and with C Coy 1st. Btn. till 15 Febr. 1916. Joined the 1st Battalion 15th Reinforcements that day. Embarked for Egypt at Sidney with the HMAT ‘Star of England’ A15 on 15 March 1916. Taken on strength with 53rd battalion at Tel el Kebir (Ismailia, Egypt) on 20 April 1916. Embarked at Alexandria with the “Royal George” on 19 June 1916 and disembarked at Marseille on 28 June 1916. (Some 40,000 Australians camped in a small tent city at Tel El Kebir of six miles in length. A military railway was eventually constructed to take troops from the camp to their vessels in Alexandria and elsewhere for embarkation to Gallipoli landings /wikipedia)
Albert went missing in action at the battle of Fromelles 19th July 1916. Information and identity disc were received from Germany on 22 March 1917 that Pte. Albert Bromley was deceased. He so was reported being killed in action on 19th July 1916. A Report from Pte. Schuck, a pal of Albert who was near him in the same (A) Company, says Albert was killed by a gunshot wound, another report from Pte. Turvey (C Coy) adds that when his brother came to help him he was also shot. Other reports tell Albert and his company, at (near) Fromelles (or at Fleurbaix), was advancing at 5.43 pm, then halfway in no man’s land he was hit by a shell and blown to pieces as was his brother Sidney who was near him.
Sidney was also born at Warren (NSW). He was a plummer by profession. He enlisted aged 23 at Holsworthy (NSW, military camp near Sidney) on 2nd November 1915 abt. three weeks after his brother with the 1st Battalion 15th Reinforcements, 4903. Dark brown dark 5 ft. 5 inch tal (1m.65). Embarked at Sidney with HMAT A15 “Star of England” on 8 March 1916 for Egypt ( a week before his brother).
From training Battalion, coming from Hospital at Port Said, he was transferred to 53rd battalion, taken on strength (20th) 21st, at Ismailai / Tel el Kebir (Egypt). Embarked at Alexandria with the “Royal George” on 19 June 1916 and disembarked at Marseille on 28 June 1916. Just three weeks later both brothers and many of their comrades were killed at Fromelles in an attack which was in fact unnecessary. Even High Command had suggested the attack wasn’t necessarily to go ahead, but local command felt they had to prove else… As for the death of Sidney Bromley the witness reports are the same as for his brother Albert. May they rest in peace. Lest we Forget.
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