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Ambrose Duncan Brown was born on 27/1/1924, son of George Mitchi Ian Brown and Mary Augusta Brown (nee McEwen). Ambrose had two older brothers, William and Thomas. The Brown family was one of the pioneering families of the Elliston district and farmed ‘The Grove’ near Elliston.

Ambrose attended the ‘Three Lakes School’ via Elliston from 1929-1936, then attended the Rostrevor College, Adelaide. In June 1941 aged 17 years, Ambrose completed an Application for Air Crew with the Royal Australian Air Force. The application documented his interest in sport (cricket, hockey, tennis, swimming and football) and completion of the Intermediate Certificate in 1940 with passes in Mathematics 1 &2, Arithmetic and Physics and a fail in English. At the time, Ambrose was still attending Rostrevor College, studying four leaving subjects including aero engine classes.

Ambrose Duncan Brown enlisted with the RAAF on 28 February 1942 aged 18 years. He completed training as a navigator. Ambrose embarked Sydney in January 1943. He served overseas in Canada, the UK, India and Ceylon flying in various aircraft including the Anson, Battle, Beaufort, Expediter, Wellington and Liberator. Ambrose’s final rank was Warrant Officer (10 June 1944 – aged 20 years), Navigator/B (responsible for navigation on heavy bombers over vast distances, often flying complex routes with high risks). He completed a total of 100 operational flying hours with the 203 Squadron Coastal – Wellington aircraft (4 sorties) and Liberator aircraft (5 sorties).

Ambrose and crew of a Ceylon based Liberator had a close call off Burna in May 1945:

From the personal file W/O AD Brown 27/5/45 – No 11
AIR MINISTRY NEWS SERVICE AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN NO. 18894
R.A.A.F RELEASE NO. 1193
FLEW BACK WITH JAP MAST-TIP IN ENGINE
A Ceylon-based Liberator recently landed with the tip of a Japanese ship’s mast embedded in one engine.
The 350 ton Jap ship was attacked near the Nicobar Islands off the west coast of Burma. The pilot flew so low that he could not clear the mast. The tip of the mast entered one of the aircraft’s four engines. It threatened to catch fire and had to be feathered. The cabin of the navigator, (417276) W/O A.D. Brown (203 Sqn) of Ellinstone, South Australia was damaged, Brown being temporarily blinded by splinters, and unable to navigate. The second pilot put the Liberator on course, and it landed safely, but with its petrol dwindling dangerously after the 900 miles journey.

Warrant Officer Ambrose Duncan Brown, No 417276 was awarded an RAAF MENTION IN DESPATCHES (pg 158 Commonwealth Gazette 24 January 1946).


After the end of the war and on return to Elliston, Ambrose purchased the property ‘Remo’ then sold it and bought ‘Nationdale’ in 1951. Ambrose farmed ‘Nationdale’ (located between Bramfield and Elliston) for the remainder of his life.

A single man, Ambrose devoted his life to the Elliston District. He served 5 terms on the Elliston District Council as a councillor and a further 18 years as a member of the Elliston Hospital Board. During his time with the council, Ambrose contributed to the establishment of new council offices, a reticulated water supply for Elliston in 1964, new council residences, council owned and operated caravan parks at Elliston, Venus Bay and Lock and a new 12 bed hospital for Elliston in 1975. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1957 and a coroner of the Elliston Court in 1975. Ambrose was made a life member of the Elliston AH&F Show Society in 1973 and was a member of the Elliston district CFS since its inception in 1962. He served many years as a member of the school council and was inaugural president of the committee formed in 1964 to study the feasibility of building a new hall in Elliston.

Ambrose was a great benefactor to the Elliston Community, councillor, and community leader actively promoting new ideas and projects. He was awarded Elliston’s Australia Day Citizen of the Year in 1985. The ceremony was held in the Elliston Community Sports Centre, the building of which Ambrose supported through making an area of his property available for community cropping to raise money. The offer was made for the duration of the loan repayments of the complex and proved to be one of the most successful fund raising activities of the committee.

A pilot, Ambrose completed mail runs to nearby Flinders Island in his private aircraft and provided flights to Adelaide assisting families with sick members. Ambrose was also known to have completed a search for a missing child in his aeroplane.

A long-standing member of the Elliston RSL including time as the secretary and over 30 years as president, Ambrose observed the diminishing membership of the Elliston RSL. Determined to see the local RSL assets go to good community use, he was a key negotiator when in 1995 the Elliston RSL club rooms were purchased by the Elliston RSL Memorial Kindergarten for $25 000. The Elliston RSL, under the leadership of Ambrose then donated that money to the Aged Care Hostel in Elliston.

Ambrose was an active member of the Catholic Church. Well-read and with wide-ranging general knowledge, Ambrose loved a debate. He also enjoyed a smoke and a beer and was a parochial supporter of the local footy club – the Elliston Roosters. Ambrose Duncan Brown died in the Elliston Hospital on 12 February 1997 aged 73 years. He is buried in the Colton Catholic Cemetery.

A revered member of the Elliston district.