Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Horace Brown was the youngest son of John Thomas and Anne Eliza Brown of Ashfield, New South Wales. His father had passed away in 1909.

Horace enlisted in the 45th Battalion and joined that unit on the Western Front during September 1916. He was evacuated to England with appendicitis during January 1917 and when recovered spent some months at training camps before returning to the 45th Battalion in November 1917. He was killed in action during a supporting attack by the 45th Battalion, against a large German force which had penetrated the Australian defences at Dernancourt on 5 April 1918. Horace was reported by his mates to have struck by bullets and killed instantly at around 5pm on this day, and he was immediately buried where he fell. Although his file says he was buried at Albert, in a combined grave, his remains were never found after the war.

His personal belongings were a lost on their way back to his family in Australia, when the ship carrying them was torpedoed and sunk at sea.

Horace’ mother passed away during 1920. His medals were sent to his oldest brother, Mr. John Thomas Brown.

The Methodist newspaper printed an article about Horace Brown during May 1918, under the heading, ‘DEATH OF A SOLDIER.’

“Once again, we are called upon to mourn the loss of not only a scholar, but a teacher in our Ashfield Sunday School, in the person of the late Horace Wesley Brown, who has made the supreme sacrifice and given his life for King and country. Born in Ashfield, and of parents closely identified in the past with all our church interests in this circuit, and whose brother is at present one of the prominent officers and workers in our Croydon Park Church and school, Horace was brought up in our school from earliest childhood, and finally became one of our most attentive and earnest teachers. He was of a quiet and retiring disposition, but faithful in all that he undertook, and never swerving from those high Christian principles which had become the rule of his life. These very qualities in business brought him quick advancement, and prior to enlisting, found him one of the youngest men ‘on the road,’ of whom it was said ‘he was the whitest commercial traveller out for any house,’ and which sums up the estimate of all those who knew him. Although war to him was repugnant, yet he felt that highest call of all — duty — and willingly offered, and two years ago was sent to the front — he belonged to the 45th Regiment, of which he was a sergeant, and fell early in the great battle now raging, but details of whose death has not yet been received. We deeply mourn the loss of so precious and promising a life, and whose example was such a strength and help to others. This is the fourth sacrifice our Ashfield Church has been called upon to make.”