Gunner Charles Oscar Rembert

Charles Oscar Rembert was born at Hurstville, New South Wales, in 1893. His occupation at enlistment was recorded as clerk. At the time of demobilisation, his occupation was documented as accountant.

Rembert enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 7 December 1916 and was attached to reinforcements for the Field Artillery Brigade (FAB). After a long training period, Gunner Rembert embarked from Melbourne on the troopship Suevic on 21 June 1917 with the April 1917 Field Artillery Brigade reinforcements. After arriving in England in August, Rembert went to France in October and was taken on strength with the 37th Battery, 10th FAB. Other than short periods of leave in Paris during September 1918 and London in December 1918, Rembert remained in action in the field. During March 1919, he marched out to England and embarked to return to Australia on 12 May 1919.

While at sea, Rembert performed in a concert held on board the returning troopship Port Napier on 25 May 1919. He sang two songs, “The Trumpeter” and “The Rosary” as a member Napierrots Concert Party. There is no record of Rembert performing specific songs in the other two concerts held on the troopship on 7 and 19 June 1919. He may have participated as a member of the chorus of the Napierrots Concert Party which peformed several songs in both concerts.

Rembert disembarked in Australia on 5 July 1919 and was discharged on 4 August 1919.

Following his discharge Rembert appears to have returned to his former occupation; electoral records describe his occupation as clerk, living in Hurstville until he moved to Wentworth Falls, New South Wales, before 1943. By 1943 he was working for The Insurance Office of Australia Limited (later part of Commercial Union).

Charles Rembert died in 1958 at Katoomba, NSW, at the age of 65.