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 on the 29th November 1847 in Gaddesby, Leicestershire (son of John Brown, 1804-1873 and Mary Earl, 1803-1890) and his wife Mary Brown (nee McDonagh, married on the 19th January 1875 in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland) born on the 12th July 1856 in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland and baptised on the 21st July 1856 in Castlebar (daughter of William McDonagh, 1813 and Catherine O’Rourke, 1832). Robert was born on the 10th July 1885 in Lucknow, Bengal, India and baptised on the 27th July 1885 in Lucknow. In March 1901 Robert was employed as a club waiter and was residing in the family home at 4, Joseph Street, Leicester, together with his father, a waterworks messenger and timekeeper, his mother and siblings, Elizabeth Maud, born on the 6th November 1888 in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India, Archibald Terence, born on the 15th May 1890 in Krishnapur, West Bengal, Kate, born on the 1st October 1892 in Saidpur, East India and Agnes, born on the 30th June 1893 in Barsby, Leicestershire. Robert also had the following siblings, Mary Catherine, born on the 25th March 1876 in Bengal, India, William John, born on the 17th January 1878 in Bengal, India and who died in 1880 in Bengal, James, born on the 29th January 1879 in Neemuch, Madya Pradesh, India, Edward, born on the 30th November 1886 in Lucknow, East India, and who died prior to 1892 in India, Winifred Victoria, born in the July quarter of 1895 in Leicester and who died in the July quarter of 1895 in Leicester, Margaret May, born in the April quarter of 1900 in Leicester and who died in the July quarter of 1900 in Leicester. In April 1911 Robert was employed as a Corporation water works plumber’s labourer, and was residing in the family home at 66, Asylum Street, Leicester together with his wife Amy Elizabeth Brown (nee Daniell, married in the April quarter of 1906 in Leicester), a hosiery trade machinist, born on the 21st October 1887 in Leicester and baptised on the 2nd October 1888 in the Church of St. Mary de Castro, Leicester (daughter of George Henry Daniell and Julia Aldridge) and their son James Joseph, born on the 19th March 1911 in Leicester. Robert and Amy had another child, Winifred Kate, born on the 13th October 1913 in Leicester. Robert’s widow was shown to be latterly residing, c/o Mrs. Fitzsimmons, 146, Grasmere Street, Leicester.
Robert’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. 17477.
Posted. Leicestershire Regt. Pte.
First entered the theatre of war in. France. 20/5/15.
Posted. 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Date not known.
Transferred. 2nd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Date not known.
Promoted. Lance Corporal. Date not known.
Promoted. Corporal. Date not known.
Died. In No. 15 C. C. Hospital, Alexandria from malaria on 4/11/18.
Buried in. Beirut British War Cemetery, Lebanon.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On the 15th May 1919, Robert’s widow was awarded a weekly Army Pension of twenty-six shillings and eight pence for herself and two children, to commence on the 19th May 1919.