Brewer, Charles Edward

Charles Brewer was born on September 10, 1914 in Elcan, Alberta to parents John and Florence Brewer. He had five sisters, Leta, Edith, Edna, Annie and Margaret, and one brother, Robert. In 1920, the Brewer family moved to a farm near Coalhurst. In June 1939, Charles married Miss Rose Lyons of Lethbridge. The couple had one son, Charles Edward Jr. They made their home in Lethbridge and at time of enlistment, Charles was working as a driver. On June 8, 1940, Charles Brewer enlisted in the South Alberta Regiment at Calgary. He spent nearly two years training with the regiment in Calgary, Niagara, Ontario and Debert, Nova Scotia. In March 1942, the South Alberta Regiment was converted to an armoured unit. Trooper Brewer landed in the United Kingdom with the South Alberta Tanks in September 1942. He continued to serve in the United Kingdom until July 22, 1944, when he arrived in the Normandy region of France. On the 14th of August 1944, Trooper Brewer received severe wounds to his legs during combat operations. He was admitted to the 15th Canadian Field Ambulance on August 15 and passed away the next day. Trooper Brewer was placed in a temporary grave near where he died and was later reinterred at Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery. For his wartime service, he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, France-Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp. His mother, Florence and wife, Rose each received a Memorial Cross in his honour