Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Mark Emerson Brown and Catharine Mary Brown, of Caulfield, Victoria, Australia.

"GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS..."

VICTORIAN SOLDIER'S EXPLOITS
From Greece To Jugoslavia
An amazing story of exploits of a Victorian soldier, Pte Stewart E. Brown, who was taken prisoner by the Germans at the Australian evacuation of Greece, and later escaped from captivity and joined 
Gen Mikhailovitch's forces in Jugoslavia, told told by his mother, Mrs C. M. Brown of Bambra road, Caulfield, at the weekend, after receiving information that her son had been reported killed in action against the Bulgarians on Aug 7, 1942.

Pte Brown, who before enlisting, shortly after outbreak of war, was an officer of the Commonwealth Bank at Melbourne and Geelong, left Australia with the 6 th Division on April 13, 1940, and took part in the first Libyan campaign, but was later transferred to a brigade HQ, with which he went to Greece.

According to a letter received by Mrs Brown from an officer who was also a member of brigade HQ, Pte Brown manned an observation post during the battle of Tobruk in the first Libyan campaign. When the telephone line was cut by shell fire Pte Brown crawled out and repaired it.

When the Australians evacuated Greece Pte Brown was taken prisoner by the Germans on April 28, 1941. His mother received a POW card, but that was the last she heard for 2 years. Berlin broadcast that Pte Brown was a prisoner of war in Germany but Mrs Brown did not believe this, because before he went away her son said, "Mother, I will never be a prisoner of war. A soldier's first duty when taken prisoner is to escape." When she did mot receive any letters from her son Mrs Brown said she knew he had escaped.

In April this year Mrs Brown received an official letter saying it was learnt from a completely reliable source that her son had escaped from captivity and joined Gen Mikhäilovitch's forces in Jugoslavia. A few days ago Mrs Brown was advised through the British War Office that her son had been reported killed in action against the Bulgarians on August 7, 1942, and that efforts were being made to ascertain details on which the report of Pte Brown's death was based.

Mrs Brown, who has another son in the RAN, has been doing full time war work for the last 2 years.

A I F MAN SHOT AS SPY BY BULGARIANS
Mrs C. M. Brown, of Bambra rd, Caulfield, has received official advice that her son, Pte Stewart E. Brown, who was reported killed in action against the Bulgarians in August, 1942, was in fact shot by them as a spy.

Pte Brown, who was on the staff of the Commonwealth Bank in Melbourne and Geelong, be-fore he enlisted, went away with the 6th Division in April, 1940, and was in the first Libyian campaign. Later he went to Greece, and when the Australians evacuated Greece he was taken prisoner.

He escaped from a German POW camp, joined General Mihailo-vitch's forces, and was captured by a Bulgarian battalion while wearing civilian dress. He was regarded by the Bulgarians as a spy and shot.

Engagement - 5 October 1940 DOROTHY ETHEL, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Libby, Yarra-st., Geelong, to Stewart Emerson Brown, 2nd A.I.F. abroad, formerly of the Common-wealth Bank, Geelong, elder son of the late Mr. Emerson M. Brown and of Mrs. Emerson Brown, Caulfield.

AFTER the expiration of fourteen days from the publication hereof application will be made to the Supreme Court of Victoria that LETTERS of ADMINISTRATION of the estate, with the will, dated 10th August, 1939, annexed, of STEWART EMERSON Brown, formerly of Geelong, late VX5102, Australian Military Forces, soldier, deceased, may be granted to Catharine Mary Brown, of 66 Bambra road Caulfield, widow, being the sole beneficiary named in the said will.