Born: 10th September 1878 onboard the vessel ‘Scottish Prince’
Died: 25th August 1918 in Brisbane, Australia
Aubrey Bruce Cooper Cecil served in the 3rd Queensland Contingent, Roll number 205.
This photo of Aubrey shows him in the uniform of the Third Queensland Mounted Infantry Contingent. His hat is adorned with the traditional Emu feathers. At the conclusion of his tour of duty, Aubrey signed off in South Africa and re-enlisted at Pretoria on 20th April 1901 with the Bushveldt Carbineers for further service in South Africa.
The Honourable Aubrey Bruce Cooper, Corporal, No. 46, of the Bushveldt Carbineers and the Pietersburg Light Horse, Australian, is featured in the book below containing the Campaign trail and the country traversed by the BVC / PLH.
Aubrey Bruce Cooper Cecil
Cover of the book “Bushveldt Carbineers”
He qualified for the Queens South Africa Medal with clasps (below):
- Cape Colony 11 October 1899 – 31 May 1902
- Rhodesia 11 October 1899 – 17 May 1900
- Orange Free State 28 February 1900 – 31 May 1902
- Transvaal 24 May 1900 – 31 May 1902
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The King’s South Africa Medal, with clasps
The Queen’s South Africa Medal, detail
Aubrey was discharged from the Pietersburg Light Horse at Pretoria on 13th February 1902, and his Kings South Africa Medal with the two date clasps (above left) was issued from the Pietersburg Light Horse roll.
During 1911, while Aubrey Bruce was in England, he departed from Liverpool onboard the ‘Medic’ and arrived in Sydney, Australia, 10th November 1911. The following year 5th June 1912 he married Sarah Watt (nee Lisk) in Toowong Presbyterian Church, Brisbane, Australia. Sarah was 10 years older than her husband. She was also a widow with seven children aged between 6 and 25 years old.
Aubrey was a Clerk in 1913 while living with his wife at 17 (or 178) Ann St, Brisbane. The census shows Sarah at home looking after the children.
It was only five years later on the 26th August 1918 that Aubrey Bruce died. He was only 40 years old. They had been living at Station Road, Indooroopilly near Brisbane. He is buried at Toowong Cemetery in Brisbane, Site Portion 2A Section 32 Grave 2. (Along with Sarah’s first husband, and later, Sarah).
Grave in Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane
Close-up of headstone
Aubrey Bruce and Sarah had no children together and Sarah later remarried.
On www.ancestry.com there is probate order dated 14th October 1931, reproduced here.
Aubrey’s probate order, in London, 1931.
