Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Harry Brown, a plasterer’s labourer, born in the July quarter of 1857 in East Langton, Leicestershire and baptised on the 21st July 1858 in St. Peter’s Church, Church Langton, Leicestershire (son of John Brown, 1833-1902 and Mary Barrows, 1833-1917) and his wife Esther Jane Brown (nee Johnson, married on the 22nd November 1886 in St. Saviour’s Church, Leicester), born in the April quarter of 1864 in Houghton on the Hill, Leicestershire and baptised on the 6th September 1868 in St. Catharine’s Church, Houghton on the Hill (daughter of Peter Johnson, 1824 and Jane Bent, 1826). Fred was born in the July quarter of 1889 in Leicester, he had a half blood sibling, Fanny Johnson, a schoolgirl, born on the 10th November 1881 in Houghton on the Hill and baptised on the 8th December 1881 in St. Catharine’s Church, Houghton on the Hill, and siblings, James Harry, a schoolboy, born on the 5th July 1887 and Sam, born on the 28th September 1890, the latter two siblings were both born in Leicester, also residing in the family home were Fred’s three paternal uncles, George Brown, a plasterer, born on the 25th April 1862 and baptised on the 21st December 1862 in St. Peter’s Church, Church Langton, John Thomas Brown, a plasterer’s labourer, born in the January quarter of 1866 and baptised on the 15th April 1866 in St. Peter’s Church, Church Langton and John Brown, a plasterer, born on the 14th June 1868 and baptised on the 23rd August 1868 in St. Peter’s Church, Church Langton, all his uncles were born in East Langton, in April 1891 the family home was at 55, Frank Street, Leicester. In March 1901 Fred was residing in the family home at 54, Mornington Street, Leicester, together with his father a builder and plasterer’s labourer, his mother and siblings, James, a boot and shoe trade repairer, Sam, Frank, born on the 1st April 1892, Albert Ernest, born in the January quarter of 1894, John Tom, born on the 19th October 1895, Emily Jane, born in the January quarter of 1897 and Arthur, born on the 22nd December 1898, all his siblings were born in Leicester. In April 1911 Fred was employed as a boot trade preparer and was residing in the family home at 54, Mornington Street, Leicester, together with his father, a plasterer’s labourer, his mother and siblings, James, a boot trade repairer, Sam, a plasterer, Frank, a boot and shoe trade clicker, Albert, a boot and shoe trade clicker, John, an errand boy, Emily, a hosiery trade worker, Arthur, a schoolboy, Harry, a schoolboy, born on the 5th November 1902 and Elizabeth Mary, a schoolgirl, born on the 8th January 1906, the latter two siblings were both born in Leicester. Fred married Ellen Comfort Cave in the April quarter of 1915 in Leicester, Ellen was born on the 15th April 1889 in Leicester (daughter of William Cave, 1851 and Sarah Jane Whyman, 1852).
Fred’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 into the Regular Army. Date not known.
Joined. At Leicester. Date not known.
Posted. To Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 17007.
Posted. To 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France. 20/5/15.
Killed in action. In the Field. 15/9/16.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Fred nominated his wife Ellen, as his sole legatee.
On the 29th March 1917, Fred’s widow Comfort Ellen, of 7, Holden Street, Leicester, was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of thirteen shillings and nine pence, commensurate on the 9th April 1917.
The War Diary records: 15 Sep-16 - Battalion moved into its attack position during the night and were finally settled down and ready to attack by 4.30am. 2nd Lieutenant DAVIES attached Q 6th Division. The Commanding Officer decided to attack with “D” and “B” Companies in the front line, with “D” on the left and “B” on the right. “A” and “C” Companies formed the second line, with “A” on the left and “C” on the right. Two Lewis Guns accompanied each Company, and two were left in reserve with Battalion Headquarters. Two Bombing Squads of ten each were also formed in each Company. These squads carried the full amount of bombs, while every man also carried two Mills No.5 bombs (one in each pocket). The fighting strength of the Battalion going into action was 23 officers including (the Medical Officer and Chaplain) and 643 other ranks. About 5.50am two enemy aeroplanes appeared above us, but did not stay long. About this time also, a Tank was noticed on our right moving quietly up to the enemy’s front line. On arriving there he immediately opened fire with his machine guns, enfilading the German trench on either side. He was very heavily fired on by the enemy’s machine guns which apparently had no effect as he still continued his movements and firing. Nothing further happened till ZERO (6.20am) when the attack commenced. The leading Company’s at once advanced at the walk in from lines 30X entrance between lines. A heavy machine gun fire was immediately opened by the enemy from about T.15 b 0.4. The Support Companies followed on in the same formation 300X in the rear of the last wave of the leading Company. Battalion Headquarters moved immediately in the rear of the last wave of Support Companies. The mist and smoke was terribly thick, and allowed no observation by the Support Company’s and Battalion Headquarters as to what was exactly happening to the leading Companies. Owing to this (mist and smoke) a slight error occurred in direction. The right and left under orders to keep in touch with units attacking on our right and left, moved with these units thereby causing a small gap near our centre. This was immediately filled up by Support Companies. The Artillery barrage opened too late to do any harm as the whole of the Supports had crossed the road moving due south from GINCHY (the place where the barrage was directed) before the barrage commenced. Battalion Headquarters had by this time moved into a shell hole about T.14 b 7.4. Throughout the advance the Battalion suffered very heavily from Machine Gun fire. The Battalion had not gained its objective line held up by very heavy fire, and the very strong and undamaged wire of the trench leading from the North West corner of the Left Quadrilateral (a strong point hitherto unknown). “A” Company immediately entrenched itself on a small ridge about T.14 b 9.6 to T.14 b 8.2. Efforts were made to locate the exact positions of “B,” “C” and “D” Companies. It was found that “B” and “C” were entrenched about T.14 b 7.7 had lost very heavily while unsupported. “D” Company had lost very heavily also and the remainder (“D” Company) were still advancing with the GUARDS and occupying shell holes between our new position and the German wire (a few of the latter came in under the cover of darkness). Good communication was kept with the contact aeroplane by means of flares and groundsheets throughout the day. Great difficulties were experienced in keeping track with Brigade Headquarters owing to the impossibility of using means of wired signalling, and the heavy barrage kept up throughout the day making it impossible for a runner to succeed in getting through. And then later Private PARRY (“A” Company) did excellent work in getting through and returning safely to us, thus three times saving the day, he was finally detained by Brigade Headquarters after a fourth journey. Throughout the day the trenches were improved, and by night everyone had more or less good cover. “A” Company, “B” Company and Headquarters were subjected to heavy shell fire throughout the day. “B” and “C” Company were moved up to where our new line was continued to the right and left. The night was quiet except for heavy sniping in front of “C” Company and its attack on one line of trenches and a communication trench (in course of construction) line carried without any serious opposition. These were occupied by the 9th Bavarian Regiment. No prisoners were taken. Casualties, 2nd Lieutenant J. C. WEBB, 2nd Lieutenant J. G. KENNEDY and Lieutenant A. H. PINDER were all killed. 2nd Lieutenant F. B. STEVENSON, Captain H. PICKBOURNE, 2nd Lieutenant H. A. GRAVES, 2nd Lieutenant W. BLACKLOCK, Captain G. H. SALMON, Lieutenant J. H. JOHN and 2nd Lieutenant R. PICKERSGILL were all wounded. Captain C. W. HERBISON, 2nd Lieutenant G. H. GRISTWOOD, 2nd Lieutenant J. BURNETT and 2nd Lieutenant J. G. GARDNER were all wounded and subsequently died. Other Ranks, “A” Company 23, “B” Company 35, “C” Company 23 and “D” Company 27 were killed. “A” Company 36, “B” Company 69, “C”. Company 56 and “D” Company 60 were wounded. “A” Company 5, “B” Company 11, “C” Company nil and “D” Company 16 missing in action.
MILITARY NOTE: Fred’s younger brother Albert Ernest, served with the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and was wounded in action in Mesopotamia, in January 1916, he recovered from his wounds and survived the war.
On Tuesday February 8th, 1916, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 7, under the heading. – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Intimation has been received from the War Office that Private A. E. BROWN, 2nd Leicestershire Regiment, was wounded in action in the Persian Gulf on 6th – 7th of January. His home is at 54, Mornington-street, Leicester.
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