Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Walter Hudson Brown an agricultural labourer, born 1852 in Hambleton, Rutland and his wife Sarah Jane, born 1858 in Barnack, Northants. Walter John was born in 1891 in Greetham, Rutland, his siblings were Isabella E., born 1889 and Francis H., born 1895, both his siblings were born in Greetham, Rutland, in March 1901 the family home was at Pond Lane, Greetham, Rutland. In April 1911 Walter was employed as an ironstone miner and was residing in the family home at Greetham, Rutland, together with his parents, also residing in the family home were his niece, Clara Isabel Brown, born 1906 in Greetham, Rutland, and nephew George W. Brown, born 1909 in Barnack, Northants. He embarked for France on the 1st January 1916, and was wounded in several places with three other bearers when up in the front line in the attack on Delville Wood on the 19th July 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, although he was taken at once to hospital and treated by surgical specialists, their skill and attention was unavailing and he subsequently died of his wounds the following day. His Officer Commanding wrote:- “He showed great pluck and courage and was quite cheerful. He was a fine, courageous soldier, held in high respect and admiration by all. It may be some little consolation to feel that he died a hero’s death in thr noble effort to save life and assist his comrades in arms and bring help to the wounded.”