BROWN, Edward Hexley
| Service Number: | 3731 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 September 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 11th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, December 1893 |
| Home Town: | Westonia, Westonia, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Blacksmith's striker |
| Died: | Belgium - Messines, 10 June 1917, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 29), Belgium |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3731, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 3731, 11th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: RMS Mongolia embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 22 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 3731, 11th Infantry Battalion, RMS Mongolia, Fremantle |
Private Edward Huxley Brown
By Moya Sharp and Graeme Monaghan
3731 Private Edward Huxley Brown, 51st Battalion. A blacksmith’s striker of Westonia, WA, he enlisted on 18 September 1915 and sailed with the 12th Reinforcements on the RMS Mongolia. He was killed in action on 10 June 1917, aged 24, at Messines, in the Flanders region of Belgium.
In fact out of the 103 men listed, 30 gave their occupation as a Miner. However there were, 3 prospectors, 4 blacksmiths, 1 fireman, 2 engine drivers, 4 carpenters, 2 teamsters, 4 woodcutters, 2 timber workers, 1 millman, 1 axeman and 12 labourers. All of these men probably were working in mining related jobs.
Other occupations were 3 accountants, 1 barman, 1 bookmaker, 3 butchers, 2 carriers, 1 clerk, 1 contractor, 3 farmers, 1 grocer, 2 horse trainers, 2 plumbers, 2 postmasters, 1 store keeper, 1 station hand and most unusually a Chauffeur!
One of the most heartbreaking stories among these soldiers, is that of Dan (Daniel) Hart. He was a widower with a young son. His wife Margaret nee Stockhouse had died in 1910. His only child, Richard was born in 1904. On the 29 May 1917 he enlisted in Westonia, he was aged 38yrs and was a teamster. He listed his next of kin as his young son. I can only think he had no other relatives at all. Sadly he had to place his son in the Independant Order of Oddfellows Orphans Home in Cottesloe, Perth. He was in the 15th Light Horse Regiment and fortunately he was returned to Australia but not until 5 Mar 1919. It is hoped that he was then reunited with his son.
Submitted 2 April 2019 by Evan Evans
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