Contributed by their nephew Eric Saunders
Bert and Mary first met at Sunday school at the Salvation Army in Petersham, Sydney. In 1928 Bert was studying the violin as a youth and Mary studied the piano. Mary’s family moved from Petersham to Enfield and Bert followed to the Salvation Army at Enfield when he could afford the travel cost.
It was the love of music at first, then it blossomed into love for each other, and on 6 March 1941 Bert and Mary were married and lived at Bridge Road Menai in the Sutherland Shire near Mary`s two elder brothers, Leslie and Jack Saunders.
Uncle Bert was a practical joker. I recall being chased around the back yard at Menai with a dish of water which he threatened to throw over me. Bert and Mary also taught my sister and myself at Sunday school and sang in the Salvation Army choir at Petersham. Bert would play the violin and Mary would accompany him on the piano. The Salvation Army had a great social life for the youth then and now.
Pte Albert Victor Brown 2/12 Australian Field Ambulance embarked on the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur for a tour of duty in Papua New Guinea when on the 14 May 1943 it was torpedoed off Queensland, east of Morton Island. Bert went down with the ship. Mary had a lonely life without her husband. She had some happiness in her life but waited for the day to join her husband Bert.
Let Meg take up her own story as written in the letters to the Association. When her handwriting became too shaky she took to the telephone and when I heard a quavery voice say “Hello Jan”, I knew it was Meg. Ed.
23/5/1999: I’m so glad you sent me that mail. I so much want to be part of anything concerned with the Centaur. These long years and many tears I thank the Gentleman upstairs (God) that He built a bridge over troubled waters. I know He takes one hand and my Darling Husband takes the other and leads me safely across
My Darling said to me Darl if anything happens to me in the war keep swimming, Darl, and you will make it.
I have our Wedding Photo on the wall above where I sit on the lounge so I know my Darling is watching over me. I often think back on what might have been and then I have to snap out of it and I say Darl I’ll love you forever.
When the tragedy happened I said no mongrel war will ever take anyone from me again, that is why I’ve stayed alone all these years, but I have a lovely friend in Erica (Costigan, Caloundra Ed). I feel I have a friend for life.
I hope you can understand my shaky writing. I would dearly love to be there on the 14th May but health wise I can’t. I can only say God Bless you all,
Love from Meg Brown
22/5/00: I’m sending you a photo of myself and our President. That’s me with my Husband’s medals on my bowls uniform, I am proud of them, sad, but proud. I’m sure you will understand. It was ANZAC Day. Our Men’s President took part too. I have the honour of placing the floral tribute. I was going on for 26 then, now I’m going on for 84. Well, Jan, I’ll say cheerio for now.
Love from Meg.
Undated: So glad to hear from you. Yes, I’m doing OK. I still have the bad asthma but I’m coping. When one gives up then that’s bad. I’m not the give up type, and the Gentleman upstairs helps me a lot. I mean God. I rang Erica and Bryan (Costigan, Caloundra Ed.) last week.
We had a big ANZAC Service at our bowling club. I laid the floral tribute on behalf of the women bowlers. I can’t write much more, Jan, just to say I want to be involved in anything to do with the Centaur.
Love from Meg.