Members of the family in several generations have served in all three branches of the military. The earliest record is of Richard Brew who joined the Royal Regiment of Artillery in 1855 and served 13 of his 21 years in Corfu and the East Indies; John George Brew served in the Royal Irish Fusiliers in France, 1914-1918; Richard Henry William Brew served with the Somerset Light Infantry in Europe, 1940-1946; William Aubrey Brew served with the Royal Air Force in Europe, 1940-1945; Albert Halewood Brew served in the Royal Australian Navy in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, 1940-1946; John Sidney Brew served in the Royal Navy in the Atlantic Ocean, 1939-1942. John George and John Sidney both lost their lives.
In the linked pages you will find accounts of the military service and exploits of these members of our family. I have attempted to be as factual and correct in detail as possible. Many sources of information were drawn upon, including war diaries, squadron log books, ships' log books, personal service records, archives material from Ireland, England, and Australia, and even U-Boat log books from Germany which I have personally translated.
War is a horrible thing and is not to be trumped up like many movies do. Nonetheless, the Brews in these accounts are heroes to me. Their stories offer glimpses into wartime experiences made by young men, which I have not had to personally endure. Therefore it is impossible for me to understand what fear these men must have felt or how their exploits affected their lives. I do not presume to know, and merely wish to tell a story from factual events. I have avoided bias and have not taken sides.
They went away and did their bit. Some never returned home. Their loss is irreplaceable.