Next of kin plaque : Corporal Raymond Paul Brett, 2nd Battalion, AIF

Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. Beneath the main figures, the British lion defeats the German eagle. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw. A raised rectangle above the lion's head bears the name 'RAYMOND PAUL BRETT'.

Born in Strawberry Hills, Sydney, New South Wales in 1892, Raymond Paul 'Jimmy' Brett was, according to himself, employed as labourer, and according to his mother, Alice, as a french polisher, when he enlisted in the AIF on 22 April 1915. After initial training he was posted a private, service number 2112, to the 6th Reinforcements for the 2nd Battalion. The unit sailed from Sydney on 16 June aboard HMAT A63 Karoola.

After briefly stopping in Egypt Brett joined 12th Platoon, C Company of his battalion at Gallipoli on 6 August, in time to take part in the battle of Lone Pine. He was withdrawn from the frontline on 10 August suffering from debility. In September Brett was evacuated to Mudros, then on to Malta and England, suffering from dysentery. He returned from England to rejoin his unit in Egypt on 6 March 1916 in time to travel with them to France, for service on the Western Front, a few weeks later.

Brett fought with his unit at Pozieres in 1916. He was treated for trench fever early in 1917 but returned to his unit on 23 March, where he was promoted lance corporal on 9 April, as the battalion took part in the operation to capture Hermies on the Hindenburg Line. Brett survived further fighting at the second battle of Bullecourt in May, and at Menin Road in September. He was promoted corporal at the beginning of September. Brett received a severe shrapnel wound to his left knee at Molenaarelsthoek in Belgium, on 4 October, during the battle to capture Broodseinde Ridge. He was evacuated to England for medical treatment but was able to return to his unit in France on 22 December.

At about 7pm on 8 January 1918, at Whtyschaete in Belgium, where his battalion was holding the line, Brett went to draw rations for his platoon from his company headquarters, which was located in a captured German pill box. He had just left and was no more that 3 metres away from the shelter of the pill box when he was hit by a high explosive shell, which blew off his legs. According to a witness he lived only a short time but was anointed by a chaplain from the nearby officer's mess. Brett is buried in the Somer Farm Cemetery at Whtyschaete.

This commemorative plaque was sent to his father, Frank Brett, in October 1922.