Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Sydney Walter Brown a boot maker and dealer, born 1871 in Leicester and his wife Mary Louisa, born 1872 in Egginton, Derbys. Walter James Cecil was born in 1897 in Coalville, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at London Road, Coalville, Leics. In April 1911 Walter was residing in the family home at London Road, Coalville, Leics., together with his parents and sister Margaret Helen Mary, born 1905 in Coalville, Leics.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday October 20th, 1916

COALVILLE SOLDIER’S WOUNDED

Mr and Mrs S. W. Brown, of London Road, Coalville, have been officially notified that their son, Private Cecil Brown, of the King’s Royal Rifles, has been wounded in action, though happily, it is not serious and it is understood that he is now well again, and has resumed duty. Before the war Private Brown assisted his father and uncles in the boot shop of Brown and Sons, High Street, Coalville. He enlisted as soon as he reached the military age and went to the Front a few months ago.

Coalville Times article - Friday September 7th, 1917

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Mr and Mrs S. W. Brown, of London Road, Coalville on Saturday morning received the sad news that their only son, Private W. J. Cecil Brown, of the King’s Royal Rifles had been killed in action. The letter was from a chaplain who stated the deceased was wounded in the head and died in hospital without recovering consciousness. The deceased was engaged with a Lewis gun. He was 20 years of age and had been in France a little over a year. For some time before joining up he was assisting in one of the Y.M.C.A. tents. He was an old boy of the Christ Church School and of the Coalville Grammar School and gave promise of a useful business career in the firm of Brown and Sons, boot and shoe manufacturers of Coalville and Whitwick etc. in which his father is a partner. As well as being an only son, he was also the only grandson of Mr Walter Brown, the senior partner of the firm. He was a very gentlemanly youth, of lovable disposition, and the greatest sympathy is felt for his parents and other members of the family in their great loss.

Coalville Times article - Friday April 9th, 1920

DEATH OF MRS S. W. BROWN

We regret to record the death of Mrs Brown, wife of Mr S. W. Brown, of London Road, Coalville, and a member of the firm of Brown and Sons, boot manufacturers, which occurred in a nursing home at Leicester on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased lady had not enjoyed good health since her only son, Cecil, was killed in war. She was an active worker for the Coalville Women Unionists’ Association, and during the war was one of the officials of Coalville and District Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Comforts Guild which did such splendid work for the local men serving in the forces. Her death has occasioned widespread regret and much sympathy is felt for the husband, Molly (only child) and other relatives in their sad loss.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 17/10/2017