Bryson, PTE Reginald Mount

Private Reginald Mount Bryson (1889-1917), tanner, blacksmith and soldier was born in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, son of Thomas and Ann Bryson. He moved to Western Australia in the early 1900s during his teen years and was definitely here by 1907. Reginald initially worked as a blacksmith’s apprentice for 4 years before becoming a tanner at B Rosenstam’s firm. It was during his time working there that he met and married Kate Gregson. Together, they had their first son Thomas Bryson in 1915. Reginald lived in West Leederville and commuted to West Perth for his work.

Reginald Mount Bryson quit his job and enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on the 9th of February 1916 in order to serve his country. He was posted to the 44th Battalion. After completing 4 months of training, Reginald departed for overseas service on the 6th of June 1916 and eventually reached the front lines of the western front on the 25th of November 1916.

Reginald was present for the entirety of the brutal Battle of Messines in June 1917 and shortly after he was injured in the eyes and right knee. He was pulled from the front lines and spent 8 months in hospital before it was decided to medically discharge him to Australia in March 1918.

During the war, Reginald fought in two battles and spent 229 days in the trenches. He was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Silver War Badge, one Good Conduct Stripe and one Long Service Stripe.

Upon returning to Perth, Reginald continued to work at the Perth Tannery. However, his war time injuries soon forced him to cease work. During the 1920s, he had another two sons (Reginald & Raymond) and one daughter. At some point in the post war period, he moved to Osborne Park and became a well-known local figure. He was also well known in the RSL, 44th Veterans community and the Perth Tannery community.

Unfortunately, Reginald died on the 18th of March 1941 at the age of 51 at the Perth Hospital Repatriation Ward. He was buried at the Karrakatta Cemetery in a very large funeral, with many prominent members of the local community attending, his former boss, Mr Rosenstamm, in addition to the brothers in arms he had fought with during the Great War, some of whom were his pallbearers.

One of his sons, Reginald, went on to serve in the Second World War in the Royal Australian Artillery for nearly 6 years, including 200 days of overseas service. He eventually rose to the rank of Bombardier.

Sources

National Archives of Australia

The West Australian, 25th of March 1941, Page 3

The Daily News, 6th of October 1916, Page 5 & 22nd of January 1934, Page 4

Westralian Worker, 12th of July 1929, Page 12

Findagrave.com

Ancestry.com

AIF Project

State Library of Western Australia