Arthur Robert Bragg
M, #18584, b. 20 Feb 1876, d. 19 Jul 1916
Birth* | 20 Feb 1876 | West Maitland, NSW, Australia, #B14015 [par Edmund Togwell BRAGG & Harriett Elizabeth GRANT].1 |
Marriage* | 10 Jan 1908 | Spouse: Emily Culverwell. Cloncurry, QLD, Australia, #M C552.2,3 |
Divorce* | 25 Nov 1915 | Arthur Robert Bragg and Emily Bragg were divorced on 25 Nov 1915. |
Note* | 1916 | AWM photo - Studio portrait of 2564 Private (Pte) Arthur Robert Bragg, 24th Battalion, of Melbourne, Vic. A publican prior to enlistment, Pte Bragg embarked with the 6th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Ulysses on 27th October 1915. After transferring to the 60th Battalion, he was promoted to Corporal (Cpl) and, on 19th July 1916, was killed in action. He is commemorated on the VC Corner Australian Memorial, Fromelles Permalink: http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/DASEY2189. |
Note | 1916 | BRAGG, Arthur Robert Arthur Robert BRAGG was the publican of the Central Hotel, Beaconsfield,Victoria. He was married to my great-grandmother's sister, Emily (maiden name Culverwell). I believe Emily moved to East Melbourne after Arthur enlisted in 1915, as she was possibly not able to run the hotel by herself. My grandmother, Grace Perkins, was living with her at the time. It is possible that they moved to East Melbourne to enable Grace to find employment in the city. Emily Bragg lived at 100 Powlett Street, East Melbourne for only a short while. She returned to Queensland about 1917, after hearing of her husband's death in France. She also lost a son, Archibald Curel, who was killed in Belgium in October, 1917. Grace remained in Victoria, as she did not like the hot weather in Queensland. Emily (nee Culverwell) and Arthur Bragg had married in Cloncurry, Queensland in 1908, after the death of Emily's first husband. They came to Victoria with Grace in about 1913 or 1914 to run the Gippsland Hotel, Beaconsfield. (It was later renamed the Central Hotel). Arthur Robert Bragg is commemorated on the War Memorial in Beaconsfield, and I believe is also commemorated on another War Memorial in his birthplace, Maitland, NSW. Arthur Bragg was born in Maitland in 1876. Service record from National Archives: Arthur Bragg enlisted on 27 July 1915 and joined the 24th Battalion, 6th Reinforcements on 2 August 1915. Following training at Broadmeadows, his battalion embarked on HMAT Ulysses A38 on 27 Oct0ber 1915. he was taken on strength with the 6th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir. On 3 March, 1916, he was admitted to the Field Ambulance Ferry Post at Ismalia with blistered feet. Then, on 9 April, 1916, he was taken to the 4th Field Ambulance station with rheumatism. He was also suffereing with cramps and scabies and was treated for these before he was returned to his unit. On 15 April, he was promoted to Lance-Corporal and on 16 June embarked from Alexandria on the Kinfarns Castle to join the British Expeditionary Force in France, disembarking at Marseilles. On 27 June, he was promoted to Corporal. Fromelles was the first major action for the 60th Battalion and they were not given the benefit of experience in the 'quiet' sector, but were sent immediately to the front in what the Australian War Memorial describes as 'the worst 24 hours in Australia's history'. Of an overall 7,080 casualties at Fromelles, there were 5,533 deaths. Arthur Bragg was reported missing in action in the field on 19 July 1916. There were no witness statements in the inquiry into his death. On that day, the 6oth battalion had 757 casualties. He is remembered at VC Corner, Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, Lille, France. His name is recorded on Panel 169 in the Commemoration Hall of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Correspondence in National Archives: There are a series of letters from Emily Bragg, seeking information about her husband and eventually, after he was confirmed killed in action, further letters asking for mementos. (It is to be remembered, as Susan Lawrence has pointed out, that Emily also lost a son, Archibald Curel, in 1917.) The last of these letters was dated November 1922.In response to a specific question from Emily, Victoria Barracks replied that they had no record that Arthur Bragg had left a Will Additional Notes: Emily Curel was first married to Henry Edward Curel, by whom she had two sons and a daughter, Ethel Florence. Henry Curel died after a lingering illness in October, 1907. he was remembered in The Western Champion Newspaper as ' one of the pioneers and fathers of Cloncurry ... in the early days, one of the business gods of the town'. Emily's son, Archibald Charles Curel, 3498, enlisted and was a driver with the 45th Battalion. He was killed at Passchendaele, Belgium. Her son, John Curel, enlisted with the 1st Australian Camel Corps as part of the 11th Light Horse Regiment. She also had a daughter, Ethel Florence. In 1908, Emily Curel, then proprietor of the Central Hotel, Cloncurry, married Arthur Bragg, who had been managing the hotel for her. She sold the hotel and in 1913 they moved to Beaconsfield, Victoria, where in 1914 she bought the Gippsland Central Hotel. Arthur Bragg became the proprietor and a local figure, involved in the Sporting Club and the Shooters Club and the general social life of Beaconsfield. On November, 1915, however, Emily Bragg sought a dissolution of the marriage (reported in The Truth newspaper as 'Sinful Soldier Discovered By His Spouse'). She had discovered that her husband was running up debts. In August, they had had a quarrel and he had left the house and enlisted in the Expeditionary Force. He admitted that he had been 'misconducting himself with women'. Following this, she applied to have the hotel licence transferred to herself and then, sold the hotel to a Mrs. Steele and moved to East Melbourne. She lived there for less than a year before she returned to Queensland. Author: Susan Lawrence Jill Fenwick.4 |
Note | 1916 | WW 1 AIF Service. Arthur Robert Bragg (1876 - 1916) joined the AIF at Broadmeadows on 2Aug1915 (signed up 27Jul1915) and was given the service number 2564 and was allotted to 6th Reinforcements, 24Bn. He stated he was born in West Maitland, NSW, was 39Y 5m of age and was a hotel keeper by calling. He had previously been an apprentice paiter to Joseph Benton MacCartney for a five year period. He nominated his wife, Mrs Emily Bragg of Beaconsfield Victoria as his NOK. This was subsequently changed variously to 16 Nichols St, Fitzroy, Vic; 100 Powlett St East Melbourne, Vic: 451 Wickham Terrace, Leickhardt, Sth Brisbane, Qld (Mar1917); Quarry St Park Road, Wooloogabba, Qld (Jun1917); 72 Wharf St, near Queen St, Brisbane(1921); 598 Leickhardt St, Valley, Brisbane; C/o Mrs Copping, Jones St Highgate Hill, Brisbane, and (perhaps Sep1922) Teviotdale, Abbot St, Newfarm, Brisbane . Arthur further stated he had never been rejected as unfit for His majesty's Service, nor had he ever been convicted by the civil power. He allotted 3/5 of his pay for the support of his wife and children. He was considered fit for active service on 27Ju1915. Arthur was 5' 5 1/2" tall, weighed 10 stone, had chest measurements 35-38", brown eyes, light brown hair and his religion was C of E. He had a vaccination mark, a scar on his 2nd finger right hand, moles on back (3), and another mole on his left cheek. Arthur was in 93 Coy Depot, Broadmeadows from 2Aug1915 to 12Oct1915. On 13 Oct 1915 he joined the 6th Re-inforcements, 24 Bn. At Melbourne on 27Oct1915, Arthur embarked on board HMAT Ulysses for overseas service. On 26Feb1916 he was transferred to 60Bn at Tel-al-Kebir, Egypt. On 9Apr1916 he was admitted to 4th Field Ambulance and transferred to No 1 ASH at Serapeum, Egypt, suffering from rheumatism. He was re-admitted to hospital at Tel-el-Kebir on 30Mar1916 suffering from cramps, and was transferred the next day to Field Hospital Ferry Post, Ismalia suffering blistered feet, then admitted on the same day to 8th Field Ambulance. Ismalia suffering cramps and scabies. He was discharged back to 60Bn in 1Apr1916. On 3Apr1916 Arthur at Ferry Post was promoted to Lance Corporal. On 18Jun1916 he embarked on board "Kinfauns Castle" at Alexandria to join the BEF in France. He disembarked at Marseilles on 29Jun1916 and was promoted to Corporal on 15Jul1916. Arthur was reported Missing in Action, France, on 19Jul1916. On 4Aug1917 a Court of Enquiry, in the field, established that Arthur had been Killed In Action on 19Jul1916. Emily requested information on 13Sep1916 regarding wether Arthur left a will, and is so, in whose favour?. On 6Nov1916 Emily raised the question regarding the possibility of Arthur being a prisoner, and advice about his pay and who is the "drawer of the same". On11Feb1918 a War Pension of One Pound per fortnight was granted wef 21Dec1917 to Arthurs adopted son, Arthur Willis Bragg of Edward St Brisbane. Emily wrote to Base records on 7Apr1918 seeking advice on the whereabouts of Robert's personal effects and parcels and mail sent to her son Archibold Charles Curel. The reply indicated that it was unlikely that any of Arthur's effect would be located, and in the case of parcels sent to her late son, common practice was to distribute comfort goods amongst the late soldiers friends. On 12Jul1921 Base Records enquired from Emily if she had any information passed to her regarding the circumstances of Arthur's death or the location of his body. They advised her that notwithstanding the efforts of our Graves Services Unit, they had been unable to obtain any trace of his last resting place. This info was again advised to Emily on 27Oct1921 at her address c/o Mrs Copping, Jones St, Highgate Hill, Brisbane. Arthur's wife Emily received his Memorial Scroll on 23Sep1922, his Victory Medal on 22Feb1923. On dates unknown Emily also received his British War Medal, the 1914/15 Star and his Memorial Plaque . |
Death* | 19 Jul 1916 | France. |
Citations
- [S7] Registry of NSW Births Deaths and Marriages.
- [S14] Newspaper - Truth (Melbourne ed.) (Vic.), Sat 27 Nov 1915, p7.
- [S8] Queensland Government Birth, Death & Marriage Indexes.
- [S50] Miscellaneous Source, https://emhs.org.au/person/bragg/arthur_robert
- [S114] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1914.
- [S115] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1915.
- [S116] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1916.
- [S117] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1917.
- [S14] Newspaper - Northern Miner (Charters Towers, Qld), 29 Jan 1908.
- [S12] Newspaper - South Bourke and Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic.), Thu 7 Aug 1913, p2.
- [S12] Newspaper - South Bourke and Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic.), Thu 14 Aug 1913, p2.
- [S12] Newspaper - South Bourke and Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic.), Thu 4 Sep 1913, p3.
- [S19] Newspaper - Berwick Shire News and Pakenham and Cranbourne Gazette (Berwick, Vic.), Wed 11 Mar 1914, p2.
- [S12] Newspaper - South Bourke and Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic.), Thu 14 May 1914, p2.
- [S12] Newspaper - South Bourke and Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic.), Thu 27 Aug 1914, p2.
- [S12] Newspaper - South Bourke and Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic.), Thu 1 Apr 1915, p3.
- [S19] Newspaper - Berwick Shire News and Pakenham and Cranbourne Gazette (Berwick, Vic.), Wed 5 May 1915, p2
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92094727 - [S12] Newspaper - South Bourke and Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic.), Thu 6 May 1915, p2.
- [S196] Newspaper - Dandenong Advertiser and Cranbourne, Berwick and Oakleigh Advocate (Vic.), Thu 24 Jun 1915, p2
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/88664262 - [S12] Newspaper - South Bourke and Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic.), Thu 5 Aug 1915, p3.
- [S196] Newspaper - Dandenong Advertiser and Cranbourne, Berwick and Oakleigh Advocate (Vic.), Thu 19 Aug 1915, p2.
- [S11] Newspaper - The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), Thu 25 Nov 1915, p5.
Last Edited | 1 Apr 2023 |
Emily Culverwell
F, #18585, b. 24 Oct 1863, d. 15 May 1944
Married Name | Curel. | |
Married Name | Bragg. | |
Birth* | 24 Oct 1863 | Kensington, London, England. [par George CULVERWELL & Sarah WALKER] |
Marriage* | 13 Oct 1887 | Spouse: Henry Edward Curel. QLD, Australia, #M348.1 |
Widow | 23 Sep 1907 | Emily Culverwell became a widow upon the death of her husband Henry Edward Curel.1 |
Marriage* | 10 Jan 1908 | Spouse: Arthur Robert Bragg. Cloncurry, QLD, Australia, #M C552.2,1 |
Divorce* | 25 Nov 1915 | Emily Bragg and Arthur Robert Bragg were divorced on 25 Nov 1915. |
Death* | 15 May 1944 | QLD, Australia, #D1944/C/2543 [par CULVERWELL George & Sarai WALKER].1 |
Citations
- [S8] Queensland Government Birth, Death & Marriage Indexes.
- [S14] Newspaper - Truth (Melbourne ed.) (Vic.), Sat 27 Nov 1915, p7.
- [S103] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1903.
- [S105] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1905.
- [S114] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1914.
- [S115] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1915.
- [S14] Newspaper - Northern Miner (Charters Towers, Qld), 29 Jan 1908.
- [S12] Newspaper - South Bourke and Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic.), Thu 14 May 1914, p2.
- [S196] Newspaper - Dandenong Advertiser and Cranbourne, Berwick and Oakleigh Advocate (Vic.), Thu 19 Aug 1915, p2.
- [S12] Newspaper - South Bourke and Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic.), Thu 11 Nov 1915, p2.
- [S11] Newspaper - The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), Thu 25 Nov 1915, p5.
Last Edited | 1 Apr 2023 |