Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Brown a framework knitter, born 1843 in Thurmaston, Leicestershire (son of Thomas Brown) and his wife Elizabeth Brown (nee Mayes, married on the 25th November 1867 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Thurmaston), born 1846 in Thurmaston (daughter of Richard Mayes). John was born on the 1st October 1882 in Thurmaston and was baptised on the 23rd December 1883 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Thurmaston, his siblings were William, born in the July quarter of 1870 and baptised on the 29th January 1871 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Thurmaston, Ann Jane, born in the October quarter of 1872 and baptised on the 3rd February 1873 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Thurmaston, Eliza, born in the October quarter of 1874 and baptised on the 28th March 1875 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Thurmaston, Ruth, born on the 25th February 1877 and baptised on the 26th June 1881 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Thurmaston and Charlotte Ann, born on the 17th December 1879 and baptised on the 26th June 1881 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Thurmaston, all his siblings were born in Thurmaston, in April 1891 the family home was at Havelock Cottage, Back Street, Thurmaston. In March 1901 John was employed as a cabinet maker and was residing in the family home at 60, Rendell Road, Leicester, together with his father, a glove knitter, his mother and siblings, Ann, Eliza, Ruth and Charlotte. In April 1911 John was employed as a cabinet maker and was residing in the family home at 69, Stafford Street, Leicester, together with his wife, Clara Brown (nee Cook, married on the 20th May 1907 in the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Syston) born on the 5th May 1883 in Syston, Leicestershire (daughter of Robert Cook, 1848 and Harriett Bird, 1844).
John’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 Leicester.
Allotted. Service number. 223749.
Posted. Army Service Corps. Pte.
Transferred. To Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Allotted. Service number 60431.
Posted. 10th B. Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
First entered the theatre of war in. France. Unknown date but after the 31st December 1915.
Killed in action. 26/9/17.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 26 Sep-17 – YPRES. Our bombardment commenced at 3.40am, enemy artillery retaliating 30 minutes later inflicting several casualties.
At Zero hour the advance commenced in heavy ground mist. The Brigade was disposed as follows: -
8th KINGS OWN ROYAL LANCASTER REGIMENT on right.
1st GORDON HIGHLANDERS on left.
In front to take and consolidate 1st objective.
2nd SUFFOLK REGIMENT on right.
10th ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS on left.
To go through leading line and take final objective.
Final objective included the Village of ZONNEBEKE.
The leading troops lost direction to a certain extent bearing to their left to avoid the STEENBEKE. After crossing the STEENBEKE, the advance continued towards the 1st objective. This was reached without suffering undue losses and under cover of our barrage.
Re-organisation was carried out.
On the lifting of the barrage the ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS continued their advance to the final objective. The ruins of an old hut caused some trouble but on working round the flanks the garrison surrendered.
It was during the final advance the Battalion suffered most.
After crossing the ZONNEBEKE very few men were to be seen and heavy Machine Gun fire was coming from the direction of the Station. The right Company however succeeded in reaching the Church, which was entered by Captain A. W. FISH and 14 men closely followed by a few men of the SUFFOLK REGIMENT.
The left was held up at a point 200 yards from the Station with its left on the Railway Embankment.
Shortly afterwards touch was obtained with the ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS, the other side of the embankment. There was a gap of about 200 yards between the right half and left half Battalion. This area was entire swamp and was covered by our flanks and a party of 1st GORDON HIGHLANDERS in rear.
The enemy showed little fight during the advance except on approaching our final objective.
At one strong point near ST. JOSEPH’S INSTITUTE a German Officer with eight men and a Machine Gun surrendered to a Lance Corporal.
A large number of the enemy were captured and killed and a considerable number of wounded found.
At 2.30pm the first counter-attack was launched. This was easily repulsed by artillery, Lewis Gun and Rifle fire.
About 7.00pm the main counter-attack was launched. A large number of Germans succeeded in getting through our barrage and reached a point 100 yards in front of our left Company. It was stopped by resolute and steady Lewis Gun and Rifle fire.
Very heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy irrespective of the losses he incurred from our artillery barrage. At this juncture the Brigade on our left was driven in but owing to the resolute fighting of the 76th Brigade (not a single man gave an inch of ground) the left Brigade was able to restore the position later in the evening.
About this time Lieutenant Colonel G. L. COMPTON-SMITH, D.S.O., reported at Brigade Headquarters with “Shell Shock” and Major A. J. S. JAMES, M.C., was sent for and assumed Command of the Battalion.
The position in the front line at this time was very grave owing to the withdrawal of the left Brigade the flank of the ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS was uncovered and the majority of the men were down to their last clip of ammunition. 2nd Lieutenant’s H. C. HUNTER and E. G. WILLIAMS immediately organised parties and got a quantity of ammunition from casualties and a party of 1st GORDON HIGHLANDERS in rear immediately responded to our call for Small Arms Ammunition and Lewis Gun Magazines.
Rum and Small Arms Ammunition were sent up during the night and the Companies re-organised as far as possible.
The following Officers were engaged in the operations: -
Lieutenant Colonel G. L. COMPTON-SMITH, D.S.O.
Captain A. J. S. JAMES, M.C.
Captain F. H. SEWELL, Adjutant.
Lieutenant A. P. COMYNS, Assistant Adjutant.
2nd Lieutenant R. P. BATTY, Signalling Officer.
2nd Lieutenant R. T. OWEN, Intelligence Officer.
2nd Lieutenant E. SWAINSON, Guides Officer.
Lieutenant F. W. HARROWELL, R.A.M.C., Medical Officer.
Captain W. A. RICHARDS, Adjutant.
“A” Company.
Captain A. E. FISH. 2nd Lieutenant S. A. H. GRANVILLE. 2nd Lieutenant F. CROSS.
“B” Company.
Lieutenant D. L. JENKINS. 2nd Lieutenant E. G. WILLIAMS. 2nd Lieutenant C. W. ROWLANDS.
“C” Company.
Captain M. WATCYN-WILLIAMS, M.C. Captain J. R. WILLIAMS. 2nd Lieutenant T. M. DAVIES. Lieutenant D. G. ISAACS.
“D” Company.
Lieutenant B. M. ALEXANDER. 2nd Lieutenant D. C. HUNTER. 2nd Lieutenant T. S. JONES. 2nd Lieutenant R. V. JONES.
Casualties during Operations.
OFFICERS.
Killed in action.
Lieutenant D. L. JENKINS. 2nd Lieutenant T. S. JONES. 2nd Lieutenant C. W. ROWLANDS.
Wounded in action.
Captain M. WATCYN-WILLIAMS, M.C. 2nd Lieutenant R. V. JONES. 2nd Lieutenant T. M. DAVIES.
Wounded at Duty.
Captain F. H. SEWELL. 2nd Lieutenant S. A. H. GRANVILLE. 2nd Lieutenant E. G. WILLIAMS. 2nd Lieutenant D. C. HUNTER. Lieutenant A. P. COMYNS.
OTHER RANKS.
Killed in Action. 39. Wounded in Action. 202. Missing. 38. Total 279.