Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Also served in WW1, Shoeing Smith S.N. 1997, 14th F.A.B., late 5th Light Horse Regiment, AIF.

When Richard Brown enlisted in 1901 in the 5th QIB and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 16 Mar 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as his sister Mrs. E. Gooden, Lewes, Sussex, England. Newspaper reports and the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk. 2 p. 155, notes he was discharged in South Africa on 26 May 1902 to take up employment there.

It is unclear when he returned to Australia, but he was living at Longreach in 1915 when he journeyed to Townsville to enlist for WW1. On his Attestation Form dated 23 Oct 1915 he noted; he was born at Guildsfield, Welshpool, Powys, Wales, and was 34 years 5 months of age; he was single and a shearer, his N.O.K. was his brother Mr. William Brown, North Shields, England; and he had previously served in the 5th QIB in the Boer War.

Richard Brown was born in 1868 at Guildsfield, Welshpool, Powys, Wales, a son to Edward Brown and Jane Brown (nee Harris). Newspaper reports of his death in 1929 at Winton Hospital noted he was a returned soldier who was well known as a shearer for many years in the district and out west. In his earlier days he worked as a tank sinker in the western districts and for a time was the proprietor of the Julia Creek Hotel.

(source AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 499; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 2 p. 155; National Archives Australia- WW1 service records; various newspaper articles- see links).