BROWNFIELD, Susan

Edward Brownfield

Susan Brownfield from Martin Street in Ballarat East was a widow at the outbreak of the war. Her son Edward had attended the nearby Eureka Street State School and was employed at the Ballarat Woollen Mill when he enlisted in July 1915. He declared himself to be 19 years and nine months of age and produced a letter from his mother verifying her consent to him serving overseas.

Susan may have spent Christmas with him before he sailed from Melbourne on December 29^th. In June 1916, after a period in Egypt, he joined the 14^th Battalion in France but on July 3^rd he was killed in action near Bois Grenier.  In due course, Susan received his belongings – an identity disc, his wallet and some letters. We wonder, were they letters from his mother? Official army records had him 20 years of age at his death but after the war Susan revealed that her son was 18 years and eight months of age when he died.

Susan experienced some difficulty having his medals released to her, and was required to substantiate her entitlement in response to a direction that the hierarchy for the distribution of medals was:- ‘Widow, eldest surviving son, eldest surviving daughter, father, mother, eldest surviving brother, eldest surviving sister, eldest surviving half-brother, eldest surviving half-sister.’ Susan, fifth in the line of entitlement, eventually received his medals. He is buried at the Brewery Orchard Cemetery and commemorated on the Eureka Street State School Honour Board and at tree 1114 in Ballarat’s Avenue of Honour.

Susan died on the 15th October 1946 and is buried at the Ballarat New Cemetery Pensioner Block Section 3 Row 1 Grave 16