Richard Lenore Brett

Richard Lenore Brett was born on 19th November 1885 at Richmond, Victoria, to Jean Baptiste Lenoir and Rebecca Grenfell. Rebecca passed away in 1896, and Jean in 1909.

Richard married Alice Margaret Swan on 20th April 1916 at Seymour, Victoria.

On 3rd February 1916, he enlisted at Tallangatta, Victoria. At the time, he was a married, 30-year-old butcher from Corryong, Victoria. He was allocated Regimental Number 212 and placed in A Company of the 37th Battalion. Richard gave his next of kin as his wife, Alice Brett. After initial training, he embarked on HMAT A34 Persic at Melbourne, Victoria, on 3rd June 1916.

After further raining in England, Richard and the 37th Battalion proceeded overseas from Southampton on 22 November 1916. One week after his arrival, he was hospitalised with influenza. For the next few months, Richard would be in and out of hospital with this ailment. On the 9th June, he was evacuated to the 10th Australian Field Ambulance with shell shock. Between then and 26th April 1918, Richard was either in hospital, on training courses or with his battalion in the field. 

In late April, the 37th Battalion was in a quiet sector, occupying trenches near Mericourt. Richard was hit by machine gun fire and wounded in his right thigh. An entry in his service record also notes high explosive shell wounds in the right arm, leg and foot. He was taken to the 11th Field Ambulance and evacuated to the HS (Hospital Ship)  Essequibbo. Within a week, he had been admitted to the 5th Southern General Hospital in Portsmouth. Three weeks later, he was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. 

On 20th October 1918, he returned to Australia aboard HMAT A30 Borda, with the rank of Sergeant. He was discharged on 2nd January 1919 and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service during the war.

After returning from the war, Richard, Alice and their two-year-old son, Arthur, moved to the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn. Soon after, they took up residence in Camberwell Road, Camberwell. In 1924, the family lived at 11 William St., Glenferrie. The 1936 Electoral Rolls show them living at 23 Cole St., Auburn, then at 319 High St., Balaclava. Throughout these years, Richard continued to work as a butcher.

During World War 2, Richard was a member of the Citizen Military Forces (V84239).

Richard passed away on 8th September 1976 at Heidelberg, Victoria and was buried in Box Hill Cemetery, Victoria.