Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of William Robert Gordon BROWN and Catherine Elizabeth nee HASSALL of Zillmere, Qld.

Prior to enlistment Stuart worked for the Bank of New South Wales joining the Warwick Branch 6th April 1913 and was then sent to the Chinchilla Branch 24th May 1913.

Prior to the declaration of the war, Stuart had undertaken his militia training with the Australian Light Horse Regiment Queensland Mounted Infantry.  He was probably keen to join the army earlier on in the war.  After the high casualties at Gallipoli, the minimum height requirement was lowered from 5 foot 6 inches to 5 foot 2 inches.  At enlistment on 30th July 1915 Stuart's records show he was 5 foot five inches with a weight of 121 pounds and a chest measurement of 34 inches (possibly altered from 32). He trained at the Enogerra Camp, Brisbane and was assigned to the 25th Battalion, known as the Darling Downs Regiment.

Stuart disemarked at the French port of Marseilles on 17th May 1916.  The 25th Battalion had lost 25 officers and 660 men at Pozieres and the 11th Reinforcements joined the remnants of the 25th Battalion at Warloy on 8th August 1916.  The Battalion was rested and rebuilt before going into action again at Pozieres.  After time in the support trenches they moved into the frontline on 29th August 1916.  The rain fell heavily and the trenches collapsed. No hot food was available and the men spent the days standing in the mud.  On 31st August the 25th Battalion was relieved by the 2nd Canadian Regiment.

Being slight and short, weighed down by his wet uniform including a woollen greatcoat, Stuart had suffered greatly in the wet and muddy conditions. On 14th September he reported sick and was eventually evacuated to England to be diagnosed with rheumatism and lumbago.  He was judged as suitable for rehabilitation at Perham Downs on the Salisbury Plains. Some twelve months later Stuart rejoined his Battalion on 29th November 1917 at Neuve Eglise, Belgium.

The 25th Battalion was in and out of the line in the Ypres Sector of the Flanders Fields and the Somme.  The 21st Reinforcements were the last to join the Battalion but by September 1918 the four companies had to be reduced to three companies.  Then the men were told the Brigades would be reduced to a three battalion basis.  The effective strength of the 25th Battalion was 36 officers and 509 men when it was disbanded with the men split up to variously join the 26th, 27th and 28th Battalions.  Stuart joined Company D of the 26th Battalion and was appointed Company Quartermaster Sergeant.

Following the Armistice on 11th November 1918 the men waited to be sent back to Australia.  With the shortage of available ships the men who had served longest were sent home first. Stuart embarked on the HT Mahia and departed London on 10th June 1919.  He is listed as being on active service for four years and 38 days.

Then it was back to Chinchilla.  It must have been disconcerting to pass the Cenotaph on his way to work each day and read the names of the men who had fallen.