BROWN, William
| Service Number: | 5345 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 January 1916, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 14th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Lecropt, Perthshire, Scotland, 19 September 1885 |
| Home Town: | Geelong, Greater Geelong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Librarian |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 9 August 1916, aged 30 years |
| Cemetery: |
Pozières British Cemetery III. N. 15. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Newtown All Saints Church Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5345, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5345, 14th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Apr 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 5345, 14th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Melbourne | |
| 9 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5345, 14th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières |
Help us honour William Brown's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of James Brown, 61 Little Ryrie Street, Geelong, Victoria
“William Brown enlisted on 19 January 1916 in Melbourne, at the age of 30 years. Born in Scotland, William stated that his religion was Presbyterian and his trade / Calling was as a Librarian. William was initially appointed to the 19th Depot Battalion based in Geelong up to 23 March 1916 then relocated to Broadmeadows and subsequently appointed to the 14th Battalion Reinforcements on 1 April.
William embarked from Melbourne on 4 April on HMAT Euripides arriving in Alexandria Egypt on 26 May and later on 5 June 1916 was transferred to Marseille, France.
After joining the 14 Battalion, William took part in the offensive against the enemy at Poziers in France which began on 6 August. 3 days later on 9 August 1916, William was Killed in Action and was buried at the Poziers British Cemetery. His effects were later returned to his next of kin being his father, James Brown at 61 Lt Ryrie Street Geelong.
Of interest, although single, numerous written inquiries to the Defence Department were made on William’s welfare by Miss Estelle M Grix whose address was 22 Little Myers Street Geelong, one letter sadly written on the day he was killed. Estelle later wrote to the Graves Section of Army Base Records seeking a photograph of his grave. A response was received dated 6 September 1921 advising that she should forward her request to Victoria Barack’s Melbourne for transmission to London. No further records are available.
William is formally recognised within the Australian War Graves with a headstone at Poziers, France.” - Courtesy of Stephen Yewdall
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