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 mineral water labourer, born 1860 in Norwich, Norfolk and his wife Laura, born 1861 in Norwich, Norfolk. Ephraim Edward was born in 1895 in Norwich, Norfolk, his siblings were, Laura, born 1882, Maud, born 1884, Violet, born 1888, Thomas, born 1889, Alice, born 1893 and Ellen, born 1898, all his siblings were born in Norwich, Norfolk, in March 1901 the family home was at 2, Robinson’s Yard, Oak Street, Norwich, Norfolk. In April 1911 Ephraim was employed as a part time kitchen boy and was residing as an inmate at the Desford Industrial School, Desford, Leics. On Friday June 18th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” –MORE CASUALTIES AMONG YEOMANRY. – The following list of casualties in the Leicestershire Yeomanry and Leicestershire Regiment reported from the base under date 30th May, was issued from the War Office on Tuesday:-
KILLED.
LEICESTERSHIRE YEOMANRY.
Clifford, 1938, Private P., Hansen, 2278, Private H. R., Moir, 1732, Lance Corporal L. J., Moore, 1678, Private D., Parker, 1478, Lance Sergeant J., Ward, 2327, Private B.
LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.
1st Battalion.
Killinger, 5616, Private J.
2nd Battalion.
Abrahams, 5560, Private J. E., Alderman, 8551, Private A., Bates, 8027, Private T., Bloxam, 12571, Private W., Brown, 9952, Private E., Claydon, 8086, Corporal G., Dowling, 10285, Private A., Fletcher, 7598, Sergeant W., Fray, 9784, Private E., Houston, 9031, Private J., Johnson, 9545, Private A. E., Laxton, 8900, Lance Corporal W., Mawby, 8305, Drummer W., Mercer, 11579, Private U. J., Reveille, 9491, Private R., Richardson, 9087, Private H., Sanders, 9224, Lance Corporal T., Slater, 8331, Private H., Smith, 9199, Lance Corporal H., Toms, 9970, Private A., Weston, 10024, Sergeant T.
DIED OF WOUNDS.
LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.
2nd Battalion.
Cooper, 12306, Private F., Hughes, 8017, Private J., Mills, 8318, Private G. A., Moore, 8835, Private A., Murphy, 5859, Lance Corporal E., Upton, 9671, Private P. W.
The War Diary for today records. Battn rested during the day in LANSDOWNE POST. Moved off at 8.00pm. Battn took over front line from which the assault was to be made and by 9.30pm Coy’s were in position. Telephonic communication established with left and right and communication by officers ascertained between men on left and 2nd Div on my right. Eleven bridges were placed over the stream which runs parallel to position and about 20 to 30 yards in front of it, there with the existing four bridges made a total of 15 on the Battn front. It was not possible to place more bridges in position as the stream had been widened at many points by big shell holes, and the trunks and branches of fallen trees also blocked any other places where bridges might have been put. This getting of the bridges into position was an operation of great difficulty on account of the constant flares and bursts of fire from the enemy’s parapet. It was skilfully and quietly done with only two or three casualties. At 10.45pm two platoons were crossed over to the far side of the stream. Four more platoons were formed up ready, in the trenches to go forward and support the leading platoons. The remaining two Coy’s were formed up lying down behind the parados in close column of platoons ready to advance. Thus the whole Battn was got into its final position in order of attack and as close up as possible. This final formation was complete by 11.20pm and thanks to the able leading of Coy Commanders the movement was carried out in perfect order, and with no noise. At 11.30pm the leading platoons went forward to the assault closely supported by the second line. The lines in rear went forward to take up the positions vacated by the leading line. At the same time, or if anything some seconds before 11.30pm the enemy opened a very heavy fire with rifles and machine guns. A few minutes afterwards trench mortars and shrapnel searched the stream and the ground on both sides of it. The enemy threw from their parapet some kind of fire grenade which burst into fire on impact with the ground, and these with continuous flames of all colours, literally turned night into day. The leading men pushed on but only a few were able to reach near the enemy’s parapet. Each succeeding line came under a very heavy fire, the bridges got so blocked and the obstacles caused by fallen trees and shell holes so impeded movement that effective support could not be given. Thus the impetus of the assault was broken before it really got a proper start. The enemy’s parapet was fully manned and the accuracy and intensity may be understood from the fact that 8 officers, Platoon Commanders were killed or wounded. About 12 midnight reports were received from the front that our attack could not reach the German line, orders were then given to withdraw to our own trenches.