Eric Brewer

On 10^th December the last entry in Eric Brewer’s diary reads:

“Relieved the 53rd on forward outpost overlooking the Maas.”

Eric was injured (phosphorous burns to his arms and hands) soon after and involved in a crash on the way to hospital:

“while on the way to hospital my ambulance, that was bringing us, had a smash. It appeared that he was overtaking a horse and cart and, as the weather was foggy, he could not see a truck coming in the opposite direction. We went smack into it and did quite a bit of damage but oddly enough only one of the five occupants got hurt. I was one of the lucky ones, which I don’t think is unusual as I have been very lucky, or should I say extraordinarily lucky, in the past seven to eight months and that is the best side to be on.” (From Eric Brewer’s letter of 12^th January 1945, courtesy of Derek Brewer and family).

Eric’s officer didn’t write to his family to let them know Eric was in hospital because 61^st Recce had to head for the Ardennes. The first they heard was when his mother received a letter from him (in very large, poor handwriting) on 24^th December. Eric spent a cheerful Christmas in hospital in Belgium and recovered gradually. His therapy included craft work – on 10^th January he sent his mother this tablemat and brooch

– but he received very few, if any, of the many letters and parcels from his family until February.

Leaving hospital in January Eric was sent to the Replacement Holding Unit “stationed in a place that our Regiment was one of the first in.” He was very frustrated there since he wouldn’t be granted the home leave he was owed until he joined a Regiment. On 10^th February 1945 he was 20 years old.

At last, in early March, he was transferred to the 2^nd Army Vehicle Park, “the supply base for all types of vehicles for the 2nd Army from jeeps to tanks”. Having passed his exams for “nearly every vehicle in the British Army” on 19^th March, he was given his home leave returning in mid-April 1945.

Eric, 4th from left in centre row, while training at Catterick Camp in 1943.