16739 Corporal Albert Charles Bruhns, 24/6/1914-7/10/1944.

CENTRAL OTAGO

HYDE 

Troopers Entertained - The residents of Hyde and surrounding districts gathered together on Thursday evening to honour Troopers Nicholas and Albert Bruhns, sons of Mr and Mrs William Bruhns. After an introductory speech by the chairman of the Patriotic Committee, Mr James McGill, Mr J Ramsay, member of the committee, presented to each trooper a wristlet watch, on which was an inscription from the residents of the district. Items were given by Mrs J. Milne and Mr A. McAuley. There was a large number of friends and relatives at the Hyde station on Friday to express to Troopers Bruhns best wishes for a safe return.   -Otago Daily Times, 10/3/1941.

Both brothers joined the NZ Divisional Cavalry and the unit's Official History describes the death of Albert:

There was an attack planned for the night of 6–7 October and, in order to gauge the enemy's gun strength, a dummy barrage was put down in the early hours of the 6th. It was effective only in so far as it drew small-arms and mortar fire on the forward lines. C Squadron suffered five men wounded through this, and later Corporal McLeod of B Squadron was killed. In the evening there was attention from nebelwerfers but things quietened down after dark. It was obvious to the enemy that an attack was imminent, and as a result he showed every sign of uneasiness. On the 7th he treated the forward areas to general shelling and mortaring all through the day. One C Squadron post received a direct hit resulting in the deaths of Corporals Holland and Bruhns and of Trooper Brayfield. Four others were wounded, of whom Trooper Waddick died later.

FOR THE EMPIRE’S CAUSE

BRUHNS. — Killed in action in Italy, on October 7, 1944, - 16739 Corporal Albert Charles (Bert) Bruhns, Div. Cav. Regiment; aged 30 years; dearly loved son and brother of Mr F. W. L. (Bill) Bruhns and family, Hyde, and Nick (Italy). ”His duty nobly done.”   -Otago Daily Times, 18/10/1944.

MR BILL BRUHNS, Daphne, and Family, Hyde, wish to Thank most sincerely all kind relatives and friends for telegrams, letters, and messages of sympathy in the recent sad loss of their son and brother (Bert), killed in action in Italy. Please accept this as a personal acknowledgement.   -Press, 18/11/1944.

FOR THE EMPIRE’S CAUSE 

In Memoriam

BRUHNS. — In proud and loving memory Of our dear son and brother, Bert, killed in action in Italy, October 7, 1944. 

Higher no man can aspire, And more he cannot give 

To die that others might be saved, To die that they may live. — Inserted by his loving father, sisters,  and brothers, Hyde.  -Otago Daily Times, 6/10/1945.

All that I have been able to find out about Nicholas is that he was wounded at the end of 1944 and appears on the list of Middle East men arriving in Dunedin by train on April 19, 1945, those to the south and inland continuing to their homes. In the years directly after 1945 an M Bruhns was offering bags of freshly dug carrots and and parsnips for sale.

Hyde Cemetery.