BREMNER, Alick Guley

BREMNER, Alick Guley – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWI
SERVICE NO : 679
RANK : Private
UNIT : 41st Battalion
ENLISTMENT DATE : 19/02/1917
AGE : 21
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Warwick, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Echuca, Victoria
RELIGION : Presbyterian
OCCUPATION : Farmer
DATE OF DEATH : 6/07/1918
PLACE OF BURIAL : Picardie, France

MEMORIALS : Yelarbon War Memorial, Yelarbon Roll of Honour, Goondiwindi War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honnour, Brisbane 41st Battalion Roll of Honour

View Veteran’s Service File : BREMNER, Alick Guley

NOTES : BREMNER, Alick Guley – By Duncan McLean

Alick Guley Bremner was born in Echuca, Victoria, and was aged 21 when he enlisted on 25 November 1916, six months after his older brother Leslie Gilbert Bremner 2419. At the time of his enlistment, he was living at ‘Glenarvon’, Yelarbon, and his occupation was given as farmer – he worked with his father dairying and sinking bores.

He embarked from Melbourne on 21 June 1917 with the 3rd Machine Gun Company (12th reinforcements), and then transferred to the 41st Battalion on 19 January 1918, in France. Following a hospitalization with influenza on 4 June, he rejoined his unit on 22 June.

Alick died of wounds on Saturday, 6 July 1918 at Hamel, and is buried in the Daours Communal Cemetery Extension. His gravestone reads: 679B Private A.G. Bremner 41st BN. Australian Inf. 6th July 1918 Age 22 Safe in the arms of Jesus. Alick was one of 1,062 Australian casualties (including 800 dead) at the Battle of Hamel.

His brother Les corresponded extensively with the Australian Red Cross Society following Alick’s death, and eventually received two first-hand accounts from fellow soldiers, who had witnessed Alick badly wounded by shrapnel from a shell that landed in the trench he was in. Private D.P. Cunningham heard him say, I think I’m hit Sergeant, I’ll stop here awhile. He died 3 or 4 days later at a Casualty Clearing Station.

Alick’s personal effects were returned to his father, Alexander William Bremner, included: two discs (likely his identity discs), one testament (Bible), a fountain pen, part of a rosary, five postcards, a wallet, photos, a coin, letters, and a pencil.

Copyright 2026 Deborah C Wheeler and Duncan McLean, Southern Downs Military History

Read about Southern Downs Military History here.