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BRAIN Albert John

ORIGINAL AVENUE OF HONOUR NAME PLATE C.1929
Service number 356

On 24thSeptember Albert was wounded in action, a gunshot wound to the right arm. Returned to Australia on the 2ndJanuary 1919. Discharged on the 15thMay 1919. Albert married Olive Maud Shelton; after Olive died Albert married Lillian Nora Vincent McAllan. 1914 to 1928 Albert was an orchard hand at Beaconsfield Upper. Then tragedy struck.

The Argus 25thJanuary 1928.

“Child Fatally Shot. Mishap at Beaconsfield.

Beaconsfield Upper, Tuesday; Mrs Beeching a visitor from Melbourne, was spending a holiday with her sister, Mrs Bert Brain, at North Beaconsfield. Yesterday afternoon Mrs Beeching’s son, aged four years, was in the yard with Mrs Brain’s young son, who apparently went to the man’s room and obtained a loaded gun. A report was heard, and Mrs Beeching’s son was found shot in the head. He died a few moments afterward.”

Consequently the Brains moved to Hastings and then in 1942 Albert resided in Footscray and listed his occupation as Boiler attendant.

Died on the 26thJuly 1961 at Van Ness Ave, Maribyrnong, Victoria.

Cremated on the 27thJuly 1961 at Western Suburbs Crematorium, Altona.

Name BRAIN Albert John
Service Number 356
Rank Private
Roll 3 Pioneer Battalion (June 1916)
Conflict First World War 1914-1918
Embarked 6thJune 1916
City Melbourne
Ship HMAT Wandilla A62
Age 29 years
Birth Place 1896, London, England
Father George Brain, 349 Swan Street, Richmond
Mother Maud (Featherstone) Brain
Religion Church of England
Occupation Labourer
Residence Arthurs Creek, Strathewen (Kinglake), Victoria
Enlisted 18thJuly 1915
Height 5 feet, 4 inches
Complexion Fresh/Fair; Eyes- Blue; Hair- Light Brown