Clive Brewster-Joske
Encyclopedia
Captain Clive Alexander Brewster-Joske was born in Fiji
, a British subject of Australian heritage. He became a flying ace
during World War I and was credited with eight aerial victories. Upon his return to civil life postwar, he became a leading citizen of Fiji
being entrusted by several foreign governments as their consular agent
. He returned to service at the beginning of World War II, rising first to the rank of lieutenant colonel
, then to that of group captain
.
, Australia. He joined the British Army's 37th Division
in September 1914.
on 15 June 1915, he was serving in the 55th Infantry Battalion
of the Australian Imperial Force
.
He went into combat as an infantry officer in July 1915. On 15 November 1915, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
from the Motor Machine Gun Service
.
He learned an observer's duties by performing them; he corrected artillery fire via a wireless transmitter, photographed enemy positions, and manned the observer's machine gun when attacked. He was initially assigned to No. 1 Squadron for these observer's duties. After his first victory claim was not confirmed, he scored his first aerial success on 29 February 1916.
On 18 June 1916, according to Flight magazine, he was selected to be a Flight Commander, with a concomitant promotion to temporary captain, implying that he was marked for leadership while still training as a pilot.
However, according to The London Gazette, on 1 September 1916, Brewster-Joske was promoted to temporary lieutenant
. On 24 September 1916, he was selected as a flying officer
from the General List, with seniority from 27 February 1916.
When pilot's training was complete, he returned to combat, serving with No. 46 Squadron. He scored his second aerial victory on 2 June 1917, and would score the remainder of his victories with this squadron. In late September 1917, he earned 46 Squadron's first decoration, a Military Cross. The award citation said simply, "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in taking part in 29 air fights, in which he has destroyed seven hostile machines."
He was withdrawn from combat duty in November 1917, which would have scotched his position as temporary captain as he was no longer a Flight Commander. On 23 June 1918, he was again promoted to temporary captain to be employed as a Staff Officer, serving until the armistice on 11 November 1918.
Confirmed victories in the below list are numbered; unconfirmed victories are denoted "u/c"
Brewster-Joske returned to Fiji. He became one of its leading citizens. On 24 June 1920, his monarch approved of his service as Consul
of Norway at Suva
, with jurisdiction covering Fiji, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands
, the Solomon Islands
, and "other islands within the jurisdiction of His Majesty's High Commissioner
for the Western Pacific."
In 1922, his father died in Suva, leaving his mother widowed.
On 17 February 1932, Brewster-Joske was awarded the Legion of Honour by the President of the French Republic for his service as France's consul at Suva.
He must have involved himself with local military affairs, as on 3 June 1935, Major
Brewster-Joske of the Fiji Defence Force was awarded the Order of the British Empire
for his services.
18 February 1936 Norway awarded him the Order of Saint Olav for his consular service on its behalf. However, the honour was overshadowed by tragedy; on 14 March 1936 his mother died at her home at 6 Wentworth Road, Vaucluse
, Australia.
Brewster-Joske subsequently changed his surname via deed poll
to Brewster on 18 November 1938. In the process, he was noted as "a natural born British subject". As another war loomed in 1939, he took command of the local military, being granted the rank of lieutenant colonel
. The next year, with World War II in full spate, he transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force
as a Group Captain
in Administration and Training.
Clive Alexander Brewster-Joske died in 1947.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, a British subject of Australian heritage. He became a flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
during World War I and was credited with eight aerial victories. Upon his return to civil life postwar, he became a leading citizen of Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
being entrusted by several foreign governments as their consular agent
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
. He returned to service at the beginning of World War II, rising first to the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
, then to that of group captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
.
Early life
Clive Alexander Brewster-Joske was born in Fiji in October 1896, the son of Alexander Joske. and Emily Undine Joske. He was of Australian heritage, and was educated in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia. He joined the British Army's 37th Division
37th Division (United Kingdom)
The 37th Infantry Division was a unit of the British Army during World War I. The divisional symbol was a gold horseshoe, open end up.Formed as part of the New Army, the division was established at Andover as the 44th Infantry Division in March 1915...
in September 1914.
World War I
When he was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenantSecond Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
on 15 June 1915, he was serving in the 55th Infantry Battalion
55th Battalion (Australia)
The 55th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Raised in 1916 for service during World War I the battalion served on the Western Front until the end of the war, before being briefly amalgamated with the 53rd Battalion and then eventually disbanded in 1919...
of the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
.
He went into combat as an infantry officer in July 1915. On 15 November 1915, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
from the Motor Machine Gun Service
Motor Machine Gun Service
The Motor Machine Gun Service was a unit of the British Army in the Great War consisting of batteries of motorcycle/sidecar combinations carrying Vickers machine guns...
.
He learned an observer's duties by performing them; he corrected artillery fire via a wireless transmitter, photographed enemy positions, and manned the observer's machine gun when attacked. He was initially assigned to No. 1 Squadron for these observer's duties. After his first victory claim was not confirmed, he scored his first aerial success on 29 February 1916.
On 18 June 1916, according to Flight magazine, he was selected to be a Flight Commander, with a concomitant promotion to temporary captain, implying that he was marked for leadership while still training as a pilot.
However, according to The London Gazette, on 1 September 1916, Brewster-Joske was promoted to temporary lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. On 24 September 1916, he was selected as a flying officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
from the General List, with seniority from 27 February 1916.
When pilot's training was complete, he returned to combat, serving with No. 46 Squadron. He scored his second aerial victory on 2 June 1917, and would score the remainder of his victories with this squadron. In late September 1917, he earned 46 Squadron's first decoration, a Military Cross. The award citation said simply, "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in taking part in 29 air fights, in which he has destroyed seven hostile machines."
He was withdrawn from combat duty in November 1917, which would have scotched his position as temporary captain as he was no longer a Flight Commander. On 23 June 1918, he was again promoted to temporary captain to be employed as a Staff Officer, serving until the armistice on 11 November 1918.
List of aerial victories
See also Aerial victory standards of World War IAerial victory standards of World War I
During World War I, the national air services involved developed their own methods of assessing and assigning credit for aerial victories.The victory scores of the pilots represented at List of World War I flying aces often cannot be definitive, but are based on itemized lists that are the best...
Confirmed victories in the below list are numbered; unconfirmed victories are denoted "u/c"
| No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| u/c | 2 January 1916 | Vickers Gunbus Vickers F.B.5 The Vickers F.B.5 was a British two-seat pusher military biplane of the First World War... |
Aviatik Aviatik Automobil und Aviatik AG was a German aircraft manufacturer during World War I. The company was established at Mülhausen in 1910 and soon became one of the country's leading producers of aircraft, relocating to Freiburg in 1914 and establishing a subsidiary in Vienna as Österreichisch-Ungarische... reconnaissance plane |
Passchendaele Passchendaele The Battle of PasschendaeleThe Battle of Passchendaele... |
||
| 1 | 29 February 1916 @ 1035 hours | Morane Parasol serial number 5119 | Aviatik reconnaissance plane | Set afire; destroyed | Passchendaele | Brewster-Jorke's pilot on this sortie was R. A. Saunders; victory was shared with Frederick Powell Frederick Powell Major Frederick James Powell was a World War I flying ace credited with six confirmed and nine unconfirmed aerial victories.Powell began his military career with the Manchester Regiment. After being granted Royal Aero Club Certificate No. 1130 on 2 March 1915, he was posted to 5 Squadron... |
| 2 | 2 June 1917 @ 1800 hours | Sopwith Pup Sopwith Pup The Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability, the aircraft proved very... s/n B1709 |
Albatros D.III Albatros D.III The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer... |
Driven down out of control | Houthulst Houthulst Houthulst is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Houthulst proper, Jonkershove, Klerken and Merkem. On January 1, 2006 Houthulst had a total population of 9,051... |
|
| 3 | 7 June 1917 @ 1030 hours | Sopwith Pup s/n B1709 | Albatros D.III | Destroyed | Wervicq-Comines Comines Comines is a commune of the Nord department in northern France.-Geography:The town of Comines is located at the Franco-Belgian border, and is split into two parts: Comines and Comines , part of the municipality of Comines-Warneton.... |
|
| 4 | 17 June 1917 @ 1930 hours | Sopwith Pup s/n B1709 | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | Lens | |
| 5 | 3 September 1917 @ 1030 hours | Sopwtih Pup s/n B1716 | Albatros D.V | Destroyed | Menen Menen Menen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Menen proper and the towns of Lauwe and Rekkem. The city is situated on the French/Belgian border. On January 1, 2006, Menen had a total population of 32,413... |
|
| 6 | 4 September 1917 @ 0800 hours | Sopwith Pup s/n A7335 | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | East of Menen | |
| 7 | 16 September 1917 @ 1315 hours | Sopwith Pup s/n A7335 | Albatros D.III | Driven down out of control | Écourt-Saint-Quentin Écourt-Saint-Quentin Écourt-Saint-Quentin is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming village situated southeast of Arras at the junction of the D13 and D19 roads in a landscape of woods and lakes.-Population:... |
|
| 8 | 22 September 1917 @ 1015 hours | Sopwith Pup s/n A7335 | Albatros D.III | Destroyed | North of Brebières Brebières Brebières is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming and light industrial town located 12 miles east of Arras on the N50 road, at the junction with the D44 and D307, by the banks of the Scarpe river.A celebration of the potato takes... |
Shared victory |
Post World War I
Brewster-Joske returned to Australia on the Makura in late 1918; his return was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald on 23 December 1918. On 11 April 1919, Brewster-Joske was transferred to the unemployed list of the Royal Air Force, officially ending his original stint of military service.Brewster-Joske returned to Fiji. He became one of its leading citizens. On 24 June 1920, his monarch approved of his service as Consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
of Norway at Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
, with jurisdiction covering Fiji, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands
Gilbert and Ellice Islands
The Gilbert and Ellice Islands were a British protectorate from 1892 and colony from 1916 until 1 January 1976, when the islands were divided into two different colonies which became independent nations shortly after...
, the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, and "other islands within the jurisdiction of His Majesty's High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
for the Western Pacific."
In 1922, his father died in Suva, leaving his mother widowed.
On 17 February 1932, Brewster-Joske was awarded the Legion of Honour by the President of the French Republic for his service as France's consul at Suva.
He must have involved himself with local military affairs, as on 3 June 1935, Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Brewster-Joske of the Fiji Defence Force was awarded the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for his services.
18 February 1936 Norway awarded him the Order of Saint Olav for his consular service on its behalf. However, the honour was overshadowed by tragedy; on 14 March 1936 his mother died at her home at 6 Wentworth Road, Vaucluse
Vaucluse, New South Wales
Vaucluse is an eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Vaucluse is located north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of Waverley Council and the Municipality of Woollahra....
, Australia.
Brewster-Joske subsequently changed his surname via deed poll
Deed poll
A deed poll is a legal document binding only to a single person or several persons acting jointly to express an active intention...
to Brewster on 18 November 1938. In the process, he was noted as "a natural born British subject". As another war loomed in 1939, he took command of the local military, being granted the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
. The next year, with World War II in full spate, he transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
as a Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
in Administration and Training.
Clive Alexander Brewster-Joske died in 1947.