Lance Corporal Albert Henry Bewley, 45th Battalion, AIF
Australian War MemorialAlbert “Jack” Bewley was born in 1879 in Blackney Creek, New South Wales, to the large family of William and Caroline Bewley. He attended Mullengrove Public School before going on to work as a labourer in the Cowra district.
Albert Bewley enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in August 1915, travelling to the enlistment office in Lithgow with his nephew, Sidney. The pair joined together, saying they were brothers in the hope they would be able to stay together. Albert was 36 years old and Sidney 21. They left Australia together in December 1915 with reinforcements to the 30th Battalion.
Albert and Sidney Bewley arrived in Egypt in January 1916. Almost immediately both were hospitalised with the mumps. During this period of time the AIF was undergoing a period of expansion and reorganisation. When Albert was discharged from hospital in March, he was transferred to the 45th Battalion. When Sidney left hospital he remained with the 30th Battalion, and the two never served together again.
The 45th Battalion arrived in France to fight on the Western Front in June 1916. Two months later it entered the front line near the French village of Pozières. On 8 August, Private Albert Bewley suffered wounds to his back and spine and was evacuated to hospital in England. His wounds were not serious, however and he was fit enough to rejoin his battalion in the field a month later.
The 45th Battalion spent the bitterly cold winter of 1916 and 1917 rotating in and out of the front line. In March, Bewley was promoted to lance corporal.
Later that month Sidney was killed in action during the occupation of Bapaume. He was 22 years old.
Albert Bewley remained with the 45th Battalion, spending time training and holding the front line until its next major action at the Battle of Messines.
At 3.10 pm on 7 June 1917, the 45th Battalion launched its attack at Messines, meeting heavy opposition from concreted enemy strong points. Only some of its objectives were taken that day, others would be taken in the days to come.
Lance Corporal Bewley led his section into the attack. While he succeeded in capturing his objectives, he was killed in action during the battle.
His friend, 2nd Lieutenant McDiarmid, later wrote, “the pity of it all was the price – the loss of such a brave soldier, who had proved himself time and again.”
Bewley’s body was never recovered and today he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing. He was 37 years old.
Meleah Hampton, Historian, Military History Section
