BROWNE, Ernest Townley
| Service Number: | 2635 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 February 1916, Enlisted in Melbourne and allocated to 1st reinforcements of 37th Infantry Battalion |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 60th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia , 18 August 1888 |
| Home Town: | North Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Castings dresser (iron foundry worker) |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 2 September 1918, aged 30 years |
| Cemetery: |
Fouquescourt British Cemetery, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2635, 37th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted in Melbourne and allocated to 1st reinforcements of 37th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Aug 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 60th Infantry Battalion, Taken on strength with 6th reinforcements of 60th Infantry Battalion | |
| 2 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 2635, 60th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 2635, 60th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Melbourne | |
| 25 Sep 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2635, 60th Infantry Battalion, Menin Road, Gunshot wound left shoulder, near Hooge, Belgium. Returned to duty 4th January 1918. | |
| 18 Apr 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 60th Infantry Battalion | |
| 2 Sep 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2635, 60th Infantry Battalion, Suffered severe shell wound to left leg, causing fracture and blood loss, near Peronne, France. Admitted to 6th Australian Field Ambulance, but died of wounds the same day. | |
| 2 Sep 1918: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 2635, 60th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2635 awm_unit: 60th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-09-02 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS
Ernest Townley BROWNE was born on 18th August 1888 in Charters Towers, Queensland, to parents Charles and Annie Jane (née FRANCIS) BROWNE. Ernest survived a near drowning incident at a Brisbane Wharf when he was 5, after he fell into the water between the wharf and a moored ship, and a wharf labourer dived in and rescued him. His parents separated when he was 6 years old.
A 27 year old single iron foundry worker at the time, Ernest enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Melbourne, on 28th February 1916. Enlisted as a Private with the regimental number 2635, he was initially allocated to the 1st reinforcements of the 37th Infantry Battalion, with whom he completed his recruit training at the Seymour Camp, Victoria. On 14th April, they relocated to Royal Park, where they underwent further training, until 24th August. At that time, Ernest was transferred to the 6th reinforcements of the 60th Infantry Battalion, at Bendigo.
On 2nd October 1916, Ernest embarked with his Unit aboard the HMAT "Nestor" in Melbourne, for active service overseas. On 16th November, they marched into the 15th Infantry Training Battalion in Larkhill, England to undergo their final preparation, in warfare training. This comprised of elements such as firing the Lewis light machine gun, using the bayonet, bombs (hand grenades), dealing with gas attacks, and trench routine.
On 30th December 1916, Ernest and his Unit embarked aboard the vessel "Prince Clementine" and sailed for France. Arriving at the Australian Divisional Base Depot in Etaples on 31st December, Ernest marched out to finally join the 60th Infantry Battalion in the field, arriving in the trenches to be taken on strength, on 8th February 1917. After 5 months in the trenches of France, Ernest was selected to attend the 3rd (British) Army Sniping School, near Ypres, where he was attached from the 9th to the 22nd July.
On 25th September 1917, Ernest was wounded in action, sustaining a gunshot wound to the left shoulder, during an attack on the enemy position in Hooge, Belgium, about 4km East of Ypres. He was evacuated, via the 10th Casualty Clearing Station, to the 4th General Hospital in Camiers. Following 3 months of medical treatment and rest, Ernest rejoined his Unit in the field, on 4th January 1918. Soon after a 3 week period of leave in the UK, Ernest was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal, on 18th April 1918.
About 10am on Monday 2nd September 1918, whilst 60th Battalion was preparing to participate in a Brigade attack just east of Peronne, Ernest was hit by shrapnel from a shell blast during a "considerable" Artillery bombardment, which resulted in him sustaining severe wounds to his leg. He was evacuated to the 6th Australian Field Ambulance, where he died of his wounds later that same day. He was 30 years old.
For his service, Ernest was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal which, along with the Memorial Plaque and Scroll, were delivered to his mother Annie, at her written request.
Lest we forget...
Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia (Service Dossier), Births, Deaths and Marriages Queensland (Birth registration), and the Australian War Memorial (60th Inf Bn Unit War Diaries).
Click images to start slideshow.