BROWN, Walter Ernest
| Service Numbers: | 1689, NX35492 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 July 1915, Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/15th Field Regiment |
| Born: | New Norfolk, Tasmania, Australia, 3 July 1885 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | New Norfolk, Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation: | Grocer |
| Died: | Presumed dead, Singapore, 28 February 1942, aged 56 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Singapore Memorial - Kranji, North West, Singapore - name is listed at Column 115 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Keith Payne VC Memorial Park, Leeton ANZAC Memorial Clock Tower and Memorial, Leeton Mountford Park WW2 Memorial, North Bondi War Memorial, Singapore Memorial Kranji War Cemetery, Sutherland Woronora Cemetery Military Memorial, Winchelsea WWI Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Liverpool, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Oct 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1689, 1st Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Hawkes Bay embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 23 Oct 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1689, 1st Light Horse Regiment, SS Hawkes Bay, Sydney | |
| 1 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 1689, 2nd/4th Field Regiment | |
| 15 Feb 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1 |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Gunner, NX35492 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jun 1940: | Involvement AIF WW1, Malaya/Singapore | |
| 21 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, NX35492 | |
| 28 Feb 1942: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Gunner, NX35492, 2nd/15th Field Regiment |
WW1
The details provided are taken from the book "Stealth Raiders - a few daring men in 1918" written by Lucas Jordan, published 2017 - refer to pages 118 to 120, 123 and 263. Prior to the war he was a Grocer in Tasmania and also later in New South Wales. He enlisted 11 July 1915, aged 30 years. Served with 20th Infantry Battalion and was awarded the Victoria Cross and a Distinguished Conduct Medal for services during the war. He left the UK for home 1 Nov 1919.
Submitted 23 January 2020 by Maxwell HILL
Biography contributed by VWM Australia
Brown, Walter Ernest (1885–1942)
by K. R. White
Walter Ernest Brown (1885-1942), soldier, grocer, brass-finisher and water-bailiff, was born on 3 July 1885 at New Norfolk, Tasmania, son of Sidney Francis Brown, miller, and his wife Agnes Mary, née Carney. He was brought up at New Norfolk and on leaving school worked as a grocer in Hobart until 1911 and at Petersham, New South Wales, until World War I.
On 26 July 1915 Brown enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force as an infantryman, then hoping to see action more quickly transferred to the light horse. He embarked for Egypt in October and joined the 1st Light Horse Regiment on 14 January 1916; he later transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps. In July, having determined to reach the infantry in France, he contrived (on a plea of having lost his false teeth) to be sent to Cairo where he obtained a transfer to the 20th Battalion reinforcements. He sailed for France in October and after serving for a month with the 55th Battalion and for six months with the 1st and 2nd Australian Field Butcheries, joined the 20th Battalion at St Omer in July 1917. In September and October he fought at Passchendaele and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for attending wounded under heavy fire, and later, after his sergeant had been disabled, taking charge of the section, giving 'a fine example of courage and leadership'. He was promoted lance corporal on 19 October and was wounded in November.
Early in 1918 the 20th Battalion fought at Morlancourt and then moved into the Villers-Bretonneux sector; Brown was promoted corporal on 7 April. On 6 July he was with an advance party which took over some newly captured trenches near Accroche Wood and, on being told that a sniper's post was causing trouble, he located the spot, picked up two Mills bombs and ran towards it under fire. His first bomb fell short, but on reaching the post he knocked one German down with his fist and threatened the others with his remaining grenade; when they surrendered, Brown ordered them back to the Australian lines. He had captured thirteen men, including one officer. He was awarded the Victoria Cross. He remained on the Somme until the Armistice and was wounded in action in August and promoted sergeant on 13 September.
Read more - https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/brown-walter-ernest-5392 (adb.anu.edu.au)
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