Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Brown, born 1847 in Hinckley, Leicestershire (son of Thomas Brown, 1826) and his wife Emma Brown (nee Lowke (Lowk), married on the 11th June 1871 in Holy Trinity Church, Hinckley), born in the July quarter of 1849 in Hinckley (daughter of John Lowke, 1809-1881 and Sarah Hackett, 1809). Walter was born in the July quarter of 1881 in Hinckley. In April 1881 the family home was at Flavells Yard, Hinckley, residing there was his father, an agricultural labourer, his mother and siblings, Ellen, a schoolgirl, born in the July quarter of 1872, James, a schoolboy, born in the January quarter of 1874 and Sarah Ann, a schoolgirl, born in the April quarter of 1877, all his siblings were born in Hinckley. In April 1891 Walter was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at New Buildings, Wood Street, Hinckley, together with his father, a bricklayer’s labourer, his mother and siblings, Ellen, a hosiery trade worker, James, a hosiery trade worker, Sarah, a hosiery trade worker, Ada, a schoolgirl, born in the April quarter of 1885 and Alice Maud, a schoolgirl, born in the April quarter of 1887, the latter two siblings were both born in Hinckley. In March 1901 Walter was employed as a hosiery trade worker and was residing in the family home at 7, Wood Street, Hinckley, together with his father, a bricklayer’s labourer, his mother and siblings, James, a bricklayer’s labourer, Ada, a hosiery trade worker and Alice, a hosiery trade worker. In April 1911 Walter was employed as a hosiery trade trimmer and was residing in the family home at 7, Wood Street, Hinckley, together with his widowed mother and siblings, James, a bricklayer’s labourer and Alice, a hosiery trade worker, also residing with the family were his nephews, Walter Watts, born 1905 and Horace Watts, born 1906, both nephews were born in Hinckley.
Walter’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested. In Hinckley, Leicestershire. Date not known.
Allotted. Service number. 45326.
Posted. To 2/4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Private.
First entered the theatre of war in. France. Date not known but after the 31st December 1915.
Posted. To 2/4th East Lancashire Regiment. Private. Allotted service number 235565. Date not known.
Died of wounds. In Hospital in Etaples, France on the 28th November 1917.
Buried in. Etaples Military Cemetery, France.
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Walter’s sister, Alice Brown of 7, Wood Street, Hinckley, Leicestershire received a gratuity of twenty seven pounds and six shillings, from the Army Pensions Department.