Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Ephraim Brown, an elastic trade weaver, born on the 6th February 1833 in Bedworth, Warwickshire (son of Joseph Brown, 1810-1855 and Rovena Lythall, 1811-1852) and his wife Anne Brown (nee Neale, married on the 1st January 1855 in St. Laurence’s Church, Foleshill, Warwickshire), born 1836 in Weston, Bulkington, Warwickshire (daughter of Ezekiel Neale, 1803-1875 and Jane Atkins, 1807-1882). John, a schoolboy, was born in 1876 in St. Margaret’s, Leicester, his siblings were, Annie, a shoe trade worker, born 1865 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, Ephraim, a shoe trade worker, born in the October quarter of 1867, Rose Ann, a schoolgirl, born in the October quarter of 1869, Jane, a schoolgirl, born in the January quarter of 1874 and Becca Mary A., born in the January quarter of 1879, the latter four siblings were all born in St. Margaret’s, Leicester, in April 1881 the family home was at 9, Roslyn Street, St. Margaret’s, Leicester. In April 1891 John (Peter) was employed as an elastic trade web weaver and was residing in the family home at Leopold Road, Knighton, Leicester, together with his father an elastic trade web weaver, his mother and siblings, Ezekiel, a cellarman, born on the 7th May 1863 in Derby and baptised on the 16th July 1863 in St. Alkmund’s Church, Derby, Jane, a boot and shoe trade machinist and Becca, a schoolgirl. In March 1901 John (Peter) was employed as a Manchester hosiery warehouseman and was residing in the family home at 245, Welford Road, Leicester together with his wife Mary Ann Brown (nee Poole, married on the 26th December 1896 in St. Mary’s Church, Temple Balsall, Warwickshire), born 1871 in Wolvey, Warwickshire (daughter of William Poole), and their children, George William Poole, born on the 19th March 1897 and John Henry Lawrence, born on the 28th June 1898, both children were born in Leicester. In April 1911 John (Peter) was employed as a warehouseman and was residing in the family home at 245, Welford Road, Leicester, together with his wife and children, George, an errand boy, John, a schoolboy, Frank Cecil Edgar, a schoolboy, born on the 31st May 1906, Elsie Letitia, born on the 27th April 1908 and Daisy Mary, born 7th January 1911, all the children were born in Leicester.
John also had the following siblings, Joseph, born 1855 in Bulkington, Hannah Atkins, born 1857 in Bedworth, Lydia Jane, born on the 28th April 1861 in Bedworth and Rovena, born 1870 in Leicester.
NOTE: No official record of John’s birth has been discovered, his date of birth being derived from the information given by him upon his attestation at the Town Hall in Leicester on the 7th December 1915. John, his enlisted name of choice, had used the Christian names of Peter, Peter John and Peter John Joseph in census returns, and on his marriage registration. A note inside John’s Army record states; “enquiring re name of late Gunner Peter John Brown. Only signs as John Brown.”
John enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 7th December 1915 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 117411. He gave his age as 39 years 67 days. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as warehouseman. He gave his present address as 245, Welford Road, Leicester.
His medical examination recorded his apparent age as 39 years 67 days, that he was 5 feet 7 inches in height, and had a chest measurement of between 34 and 36 inches.
He gave his next of kin as his wife, Mary Ann Brown, 245, Welford Road, Clarendon Park, Leicester.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Attested. Town Hall, Leicester. 7/12/15.
To Army Reserve. 8/12/15.
Mobilized. 29/8/16.
Posted. No. 4. Depot Royal Garrison Artillery. Gnr. 29/8/16.
Joined. At Great Yarmouth. 2/9/16.
Posted. Royal Garrison Artillery. Gnr. 9/9/16.
Posted. L & C. Royal Garrison Artillery. Gnr. 9/9/16.
Posted. 279th Siege Battery. Royal Garrison Artillery. Gnr. 18/11/16.
Posted. 297th Siege Battery. Royal Garrison Artillery. Gnr. 16/12/16.
Embarked. From Southampton. 27/3/17.
Disembarked. Havre. 30/3/17
Posted. 279th Siege Battery. Royal Garrison Artillery. Gnr. 30/3/17.
Died of wounds received in action. In the Field. 26/6/17.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 7/12/15. – 1/4/17. 1 year 110 days.
B.E.F., France. 2/4/17 – 26/6/17. 92 days.
Total Service. 1 year 202 days.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
John’s surviving service record is in fair condition and offers a reasonably accurate overall description of some of the events that took place during his period of service.
On the 22nd January 1918, John’s widow was awarded a weekly Army Pension for herself and her three children of twenty-seven and six pence a week to commence on the 14th January 1918. On the 16th August 1920, this was increased to one pound eighteen shillings and five pence a week.