Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Brown a butcher, born 1863 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire and his wife Annie Brown (nee Rudkin, married in the 4th quarter of 1883 in the Leicester district), born 31st December 1863 in Thrussington, Leicestershire. Lewis William was born in the 2nd quarter of 1888 in Great Dalby, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Claude Rudkin, born 1885, Mabel Alice, born 1886 and Nora, born 19th February 1887, the latter three siblings were all born in Great Dalby and Constance Annie, born 23rd December 1889 in Melton Mowbray, in April 1891 the family home was at 3, Sherrard Street, Melton Mowbray. In March 1901 Lewis was residing in the family home at 3, Sherrard Street, Melton Mowbray, together with his father, a butcher and shopkeeper, his mother and siblings, Claude, a butcher’s apprentice, Mabel, Nora, Constance and Kathleen, born 1900 in Melton Mowbray, also residing with the family was his paternal aunt, Emma Brown, born 1880 in Melton Mowbray, and a cousin, Ernest Manchester, a butcher’s journeyman, born 1882 in Melton Mowbray. In April 1911 Lewis was absent from the family home at 3, Sherrard Street, Melton Mowbray, residing there was his father, a butcher, his mother and siblings, Claude, a butcher’s assistant, Mabel, Nora, Constance and Kathleen, a schoolgirl, Lewis was employed as a drapery department assistant and was residing in his place of employment at 334/348, Oxford Street, St. Marylebone, Middlesex.
Lewis attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War, with the Colours and in the Army Reserve.) on the 24th November 1915 in Melton Mowbray. He gave his home address as 31, Craven Street, Melton Mowbray, his age as 27 years and 227 days and his trade or calling as cowman. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father, Thomas Brown of 31, Craven Street, Melton Mowbray as his next of kin. He gave his religion as Wesleyan.
His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 9 inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 34 and 37 inches. His physical development was described as very good.
After attestation on the 24/11/15 in Melton Mowbray he was transferred as Gunner, service number 143159 to the Army Reserve on the 25/11/15. Mobilized on the 7/3/17. Posted to No. 4 Depot Royal Garrison Artillery, South Camp, Ripon on the 7/3/17. Posted to the 406th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery on the 24/3/17. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 9/8/17. Transferred to the 254th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery on the 15/8/17. Killed in action on the 25/5/18. Place of burial Morbecque British Cemetery, 2 miles south of Hazebrouck. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 24/11/15 to 8/8/17, 1 year 258 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 9/8/17 to 25/5/18, 290 days. Total service 2 years and 290 days. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
On the 5th September 1918 the Officer in charge of Royal Garrison Artillery Records, Dover forwarded the following personal items to Lewis’s father: 4d -?-, disc, letters, photos, pipe, wallet, Religious book, cig. case, purse, watch with wrist strap and protector, 2 knives, nail clippers, scissors and case, fountain pen, 2 handkerchiefs, ring.
The following information was provided by Lewis’s father Thomas Brown on the 29th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by J. E. -?-, J.P., County of Leicester, Melton Mowbray on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Thomas Brown of 31, Craven Street, Melton Mowbray. Mother of soldier Annie Brown of 31, Craven Street, Melton Mowbray. Full blood brothers of soldier, Claud Rudkin Brown, age 34 of 3, Sherrard Street, Melton Mowbray. Full blood sisters of soldier, Mabel Alice Goodacre, age 33 of 1, North Hermitage, Shrewsbury. Nora Carter, age 32 of Cottesmore Avenue, Melton Mowbray. Constance Hollis, age 29 of Craven Street, Melton Mowbray. Kathleen Brown, age 18 of 31, Craven Street, Melton Mowbray.
Lewis’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
On Friday June 7th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – GUNNER LEWIS BROWN KILLED. Mr. T. Brown, 31, Craven st., received the following letter last Friday morning: “Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, B.E.F., France, May 28th, 1918. Dear Mr. Brown, I am taking the liberty of writing to you concerning your son, Lewis, with whom I was very friendly, and am very much distressed to have to give you bad news concerning him. He was working with a detachment on the gun on Saturday night when about 10 o’ clock a shell fell and burst in the pit. A number of men were severely injured, and Lewis was so badly hurt that he died about an hour afterwards. I am very glad to say that I do not think he suffered at all, as all the time after he was hit he was unconscious. My reason for writing to you is an intimate friendship which Lewis and I had had since the early days we were together at Ripon and Prees Heath, and I thought you would perhaps care for personal information as well as the official intimation which I expect you will receive in due course. I need only say that I feel very much upset at losing a friendship which I had hoped would last for many years after the war is over. Like you, I am connected with the Wesleyan Church, and I can only hope and pray that the comforts of the Gospel we believe will be given to you and yours in your great loss. Believe me to be. Yours Sincerely, Horace Wilson.” Gunner Lewis William Brown was 30 years of age, and was the younger son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Brown. He served his apprenticeship in the drapery of Messrs. W. Barnes and Co., Market-place, being afterwards for about four and a half years with Messrs. Marshall and Snelgrove, London. He then returned to Melton, and for over three years assisted his father on his farm prior to joining up 12 months last March. He had been in France since the end of July. Deceased was well known and much liked, and the greatest sympathy will be extended to the bereaved parents and members of the family. Up to yesterday no confirmation of the sad news had been received.
On Friday June 21st 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – GUNNER LEWIS BROWN’S DEATH. Mr. T. Brown, Craven-st., Melton Mowbray, has received official confirmation of the death in action of his son, Gunner Lewis Brown, Royal Garrison Artillery.