The Roll of Honour, Volume 1 : A biographical record of all members of His…
1907. After the outbreak of war he volunteered for Imperial service,
13662 words | Chapter 28
and enlisted at Mackay, North Queensland, in Oct. 1914, and after
training at Enogerra Camp, Brisbane, from March to Aug. 1915, left
for Egypt with the second reinforcements. He died in No. 27 General
Hospital at Mudros, 1 Jan. 1916, from uremia, brought on by exposure in
the trenches, and was buried in the cemetery there; _unm._
[Illustration: =Alwin Huard Brierly.=]
=BRIGGS, CHARLEY=, Private, No. 6479, 1st Battn. West Yorkshire
Regt., 1st _s._ of Samuel Briggs, of 1, Ganny Yard, Elland Road,
by his wife, Emma; _b._ Brighouse, co. York, 9 Jan. 1886; educ.
there; enlisted 7 Aug. 1902, and was killed in action 1½ miles S.E. of
Tyron, 20 Sept. 1914. He _m._ at Southowram, 13 Aug. 1910, Emma
Jane (5, Elland Road, Brookfoot, Brighouse, co. York), dau. of (--),
and had three daus., Mary, _b._ 9 Feb. 1911; Mabel, _b._ 5
Jan. 1913; and Muriel, _b._ 6 Oct. 1914.
[Illustration: =Charley Briggs.=]
=BRIGGS, GEORGE CLARK=, Capt., 1st Battn. Royal Scots Fusiliers,
only _s._ of Francis Briggs, of Huntington, near Haddington,
Teak Merchant and Shipowner, by his wife, Esther White, dau. of James
Munro, of Moffat, M.D. [by his wife (--), dau. of Dr. George Smith,
Fleet Surgeon, R.N., who at one time served with Nelson]; _b._
at Edinburgh, 4 March, 1878; educ. Edinburgh Academy, Malvern College
and Clare College, Cambridge; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 1st Battn.
of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, 3 May, 1899, and promoted Lieut. 24
Feb. 1900, and Capt. 18 April, 1915. He served in the South African
War, 1899–1902, taking part in the Relief of Ladysmith and was taken
prisoner at Colenso, but was released on the entry of Lord Roberts into
Pretoria. He was sent with Boer prisoners to Ceylon. On his return
he took part in the operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria,
including the actions at Frederickstad, 17–25 Oct. 1900, and was
employed with the Rand Rifles from Dec. 1901, to June, 1902, and was
then chosen for the Mounted Infantry. For his services he received
the Queen’s medal with four clasps and the King’s medal with two. He
afterwards served in India, again in South Africa and accompanied
the first Expeditionary Force to France. He was killed in action at
Vailly-sur-Aisne, 14 Sept. 1914, while extracting his men out of a
position from which they had to retire. Capt. Briggs was mentioned in
F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 8 Oct. 1914, for gallant
conduct during the retreat from Mons. Corpl. T. Gibson and Private
Cox of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, both home wounded, related in The
Scotsman of 17 Oct. the following incident: “In the retreat from
Jemappes the Germans were pressing the Fusiliers closely, and towards
evening the coy. reached the village, dead beat after a long march.
Capt. Briggs got the men together and gave the order to fix bayonets.
At the same time he spoke a few patriotic words with regard to the
regt. and its illustrious history, pointing out that it had never been
known to surrender. The Capt. said he was prepared to make a last stand
and with bayonets fixed the men waited on the enemy coming through. The
last stand was not needed, however, as the Germans did not press home
their advantages.”
[Illustration: =George Clark Briggs.=]
=BRIMBLE, CYRIL GEORGE MICHAEL=, Private, No 72029, Machine
Gun Section, 27th Battn. (Winnipeg L.I.), 6th Brigade, Canadian
Expeditionary Force; 4th and yst. _s._ of Edward Henry Brimble,
of Milton, Weston-super-Mare, retired Banker, by his wife, Agnes
Edith, dau. of George Shadbolt, P.R.M.S.; _b._ Fish Ponds, co.
Gloucester, 11 Sept. 1888; educ. Lewisham School, Weston-super-Mare;
went to Canada in March, 1911, and settled at Winnipeg. In Feb. 1915,
he volunteered and joined the Winnipeg L.I., and was killed in action
at Neuve Eglise, 16 Oct. 1915, being the first of his battn. to fall;
_unm._ He was buried in Locre churchyard the following day with
full military honours.
[Illustration: =Cyril G. M. Brimble.=]
=BRIMBLECOMBE, THOMAS=, Private, No. 91133, 7th (Service) Battn.
Royal West Surrey Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France,
etc.; killed in action, 13 Aug. 1915.
=BRINDLE, JAMES=, Private, No. 17367, 2nd Battn. King’s Own Royal
Lancashire Regt., _s._ of Hugh Brindle, of 29, Pickup Street,
Blackburn, by his wife, Jane Eliza, dau. of Henry Tomlinson; _b._
Blackburn, 16 Sept. 1893; educ. Holy Trinity School there; prior to
the outbreak of the war was employed as a weaver in Sparrow’s Mill,
Quarry Street; joined the Army 25 Jan. 1915, and was killed in action
at Ypres, 8 May, 1915; _unm._ Five of his brothers are, or were,
on active service, Private Joseph Brindle, 3rd Battn. East Lancashires;
Ewen, 4th Battn. East Lancashires; and Alfred, Lancashire Fusiliers,
are serving in France; George is in the Navy; and the yst., Private
Thomas Brindle, Scottish Rifles, has been discharged, having had his
finger blown off at the Battle of the Aisne.
[Illustration: =James Brindle.=]
=BRINDLEY, THOMAS LESLIE ST. JOHN=, Private, No. 12037, 2nd Battn.
Coldstream Guards; _b._ Worcester; served with the Expeditionary
Force in France, etc.; killed in action at Cuinchy, 1 Feb. 1915;
_unm._
=BRINGLOE, THOMAS=, L.-Corpl., No. 470, 1/5th. Battn. (The Buffs)
East Kent Regt. (T.F.), 5th _s._ of the late John Bringloe,
of Cranbrook, co. Kent, by his wife, Mary (Lauriston, High Street,
Cranbrook), dau. of Henry Curry of Foulden, Norfolk; _b._
Didlington, co. Norfolk, 6 April, 1891; educ. Didlington and Cranbrook
National Schools, and was Gardener to Col. Alexander; joined the
Cranbrook Territorials in 1906; volunteered for active service on the
outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; left for India (Kamptee) in Oct. 1914;
went to Mesopotamia, Dec. 1915; and died 8 Jan. 1916, from wounds
received in action at the Battle of Sheikh Saad, the previous day;
_unm._ He was bugler to Col. Munn-Mace.
=BRISTOW, ARTHUR THOMAS=, Gunner, R.M.A., 10280, H.M.S. Good Hope;
lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=BRISTOWE, ROBERT OWEN=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. Devonshire Regt., only
_s._ of the late Stanley Bristowe, Member of the London Stock
Exchange, by his wife, Ethel (now wife of William Henry Harrison, of
13, Oakley Street, Chelsea, S.W.), dau. of John Pike, and grandson of
Robert Henry Bristowe, of Wavertree, Sydenham Hill, S.E.; _b._
Sydenham, 5 Sept. 1888; educ. Parkfield, Haywards Heath; Charterhouse,
and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the Devonshire Regt., 14 Oct.
1908, and joined at Plymouth 21 Nov. following; served in Crete,
Malta and Egypt, and was promoted Lieut. 4 May, 1911. He obtained
a “distinguished” in both the rifle and machine gun courses at the
Hythe School of Musketry between Jan. and March, 1913, and was Acting
Adjutant in Cairo and at the front. When the European War broke out
he was home on leave from Cairo and was sent to the camp at Saltash,
Cornwall. He rejoined his battn. on its return from Egypt, and
proceeded with it to the front on 5 Nov. 1914; came home on short leave
21 Jan. 1915, returning to the front on the 27th of the month, and was
killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 10 March, 1915; _unm._ He
was mentioned for gallant and distinguished conduct in the field in
F.M. Sir John French’s Despatch of 5 April, 1915 [London Gazette, 22
June, 1915]. The second in command of the battn. wrote: “His loss to
the regt. is immense, and to me, personally, more than I can say...;
he was always so cheery, and the whole of the officers, N.C.O.’s and
men of the battalion share your grief.... He was cool and collected
as he always was under all circumstances, and he led his platoon
splendidly.” The officer commanding his company at the time said: “To
me it seems impossible that such a catastrophe could have happened to
the most wonderful nature I have ever met. His death has left all of
us that remain in the battn. simply stupefied.... You will remember
that he took his platoon over that machine gun and rifle swept ground,
losing half his platoon, and when they arrived at the German trench
the remnants laid down under the German parapet, while Bob knelt up
and fired from two to three dozen shots at Germans who were firing at
our troops advancing further to the left. There seems no doubt at all
that he accounted for some dozen and a-half of them, until one of them
spotted him and hit him behind the left ear.... Only 18 men out of 53
now remain of his platoon ... more than one gulped down a lump when
reminded of their beloved officer and friend. They just loved the old
lad. I have never known any person so universally admired and loved as
he was by everyone”; adding: “his advance greatly helped to cause the
whole German line to retire.” A private wrote: “I feel sure that I am
expressing not only my own thoughts but those of my comrades of the
platoon which has had the honour of serving under the leadership of so
brave a gentleman as the late Lieut. Bristowe. It is hardly necessary
for me to add that his loss is most keenly felt by us all.” The platoon
sergt. wrote: “I trust you can now realise how bravely and fearlessly
our gallant leader met his death, not caring about himself as long
as he could make the attack successful.” His cousin, Private Stanley
Bristowe, died on active service 18 June, 1915 (see following notice).
[Illustration: =Robert Owen Bristowe.=]
=BRISTOWE, STANLEY=, Private, No. 2063, Hon. Artillery Company,
eldest _s._ of Percy Robert Bristowe, of Roundwood, Hutton, Essex,
member of the London Stock Exchange, by his wife, Elizabeth Frances
Mary, dau. of Henry Edward Milner (late of) Woodlawn, Kingswood Road,
Norwood, and grandson of Robert Henry Bristowe, of Wavertree, Sydenham
Hill, S.E.; _b._ Waverley, Bromley, Kent, 29 May, 1893; educ.
Charterhouse; joined the Hon. Artillery Company in Sept. 1914, and
died in hospital, St. Omer, France, of illness contracted while on
active service in France, 18 June, 1915. He was buried in the Souvenir
Cemetery, St. Omer; _unm._ His cousin-german, Lieut. R. O.
Bristowe, was killed in action 14 March, 1915 (see preceding notice).
[Illustration: =Stanley Bristowe.=]
=BRITT, ALBERT HENRY=, Private, No. 3245, 1st Battn. Coldstream
Guards; enlisted 16 Jan. 1900; served in South Africa, 7 Nov. 1901 to 4
Oct. 1902 (Queen’s medal with three clasps), and with the Expeditionary
Force in France and Flanders, 11 Sept. to 29 Oct. 1914; was reported
missing on the latter date, and is now assumed to have been killed in
action 29 Oct. to 2 Nov. 1914. He _m._ Rose (1, The Row, Elmdon
Heath, Salihill, Birmingham) and had six children.
=BROAD, EDWARD=, Stoker, Petty Officer, 281620, H.M.S. Hawke; lost
in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._
=BROAD, GEORGE ALFRED=, Private, No. 7751, 2nd Battn. East Kent
Regt. (The Buffs); served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.;
killed in action, 18 Oct. 1914; _m._
=BROAD, WALTER=, Sergt. Shoemaker, No. 5641, 3rd Battn. Coldstream
Guards, _s._ of George Broad, of North Evington, Leicester;
_b._ Leicester, 3 Jan. 1883; educ. there; served with the 3rd
Battn. Leicester Regt. in the South African War (Queen’s medal with two
clasps “Cape Colony,” “South Africa, 1902”); enlisted in the Coldstream
Guards, 8 Aug. 1904; became L.-Corpl. 3 Oct. 1905; Corpl. 5 Jan. 1909;
Sergt. and Sergt. Shoemaker 26 July, 1913; served in Egypt 29 Sept.
1906, to 20 Oct. 1908, and with the British Expeditionary Force in
France and Flanders from 12 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at the
Battle of Mons, 16 Sept. 1914. He _m._ at St. Peter’s Church,
Mount Sorrell,--Aug. 1910, Nellie (170, Main Street, Mount Sorrell,
Leicestershire), dau. of Harry Rudkin, of 170, Main Street, Mount
Sorrell, and had two children: Walter, _b._ 29 Oct. 1914; and May,
_b._ 2 May, 1912.
[Illustration: =Walter Broad.=]
=BROADHURST, JOSEPH HENRY=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 6723),
S.S. 101291, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct.
1914.
=BROADRICK, JAMES GEORGE=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4540),
282164, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BROADWAY, HUGH ALEXANDER=, Lieut., R.E., eldest _s._ of
Alexander Broadway, Magistrate and Landowner in the Punjab, India, by
his wife, Lizzie Welford, dau. of Kinsey Beaumont Thomas, of Upton, co.
Worcester; _b._ Mussoorie, India, 23 June, 1891; educ. Watson’s
College, Edinburgh, and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; obtained
his commission, 25 July, 1912. On the conclusion of the usual two
years’ course at the S.M.E., he volunteered for India, and was sent
to Gosport in July, 1914, for an electric lighting course prior to
embarkation. On the outbreak of war, Broadway was at first employed in
hutting the troops for coast defence, and then on some miscellaneous
work at Netley Hospital and in the Southampton district, to his great
and natural disappointment. But it was not for long, and in Nov. he
was ordered to report at Chatham for service in a field company to
be sent to the front, where he afterwards served in the 15th Field
Coy. under Major P. K. Betty, R.E., to which he appears to have been
transferred at the front. Here Broadway was specially commended for
good work in design and execution of defences in an important position,
christened “Port Arthur,” and specially commended for the excellent and
gallant work carried out by himself and his section of the 15th Coy.
R.E. by the Brig.-Gen. commanding the 24th Infantry Brigade, through
the Headquarters of the 8th Division in March, 1915. The 10 March
saw Broadway preparing the defences of a post captured outside Neuve
Chapelle, and in the afternoon of that day he was bending down in an
exposed position to bandage one of his sappers who had been shot when
he was himself hit in the shoulder, and the bullet injured his spine.
He was immediately carried to the dressing station and sent out to the
base hospital, but eventually died there on 30 March. Hugh Broadway was
specially fond of Rugby football among games, was a keen soldier, and
very popular with his fellows, and put all his energy into the subject
in hand. Many letters testify similarly to that of the Major commanding
his company, who wrote: “Your son, during the short time he was in the
company, endeared himself to us all, and worked hard at whatever he
undertook,” and his all too brief career was crowned by his posthumous
mention in F.M. Sir John French’s Despatch of 31 May, 1915, “for
gallant and distinguished service in the field.”
[Illustration: =Hugh A. Broadway.=]
=BROADWELL, THOMAS=, Private, No. 6675, 2nd Battn. East Yorkshire
Regt., 2nd _s._ of Robert Broadwell, of Hull, Blacksmith, by his wife,
Annie Elizabeth, dau. of Thomas Peterson; _b._ Hull, 5 Sept. 1876;
educ. Blundell Street Board School there; served for six or seven
years in the 1st East Yorks Rifle Volunteers; worked for 21 years with
Charles Hatfield, of Hull, Coal Merchant, and after the latter’s death
in 1912, for himself as a coal dealer; was called up on the outbreak
of the war (11 Aug. 1914), and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle,
9 April, 1915. He _m._ at Sculcoates Parish Church, Hull, Lily (7,
Walter’s Terrace, West Parade, Hull), dau. of William Atkinson, and had
five children: Robert William, _b._ 8 March, 1903; Harry, _b._ 29 May,
1904; Laura, _b._ 7 Feb. 1899; Lily, _b._ 27 Sept. 1907; and Muriel,
_b._ 2 July, 1912.
=BROADWOOD, MAXIMILIAN FRANCIS=, 2nd Lieut., 1st Battn. The
Queen’s Own West Kent Regt., _s._ of Francis Broadwood, of Hever
Court, Singlewell, Gravesend, and his wife, Mary Sylvia, dau. of
the late Maximilian Hammond Dallson, of Hamptons, co. Kent, J.P.,
and grandson of the late Thomas Broadwood, of Holmbush, co. Sussex;
_b._ Brunswick Place, Hove, co. Sussex, 1 April, 1893; educ.
Evelyns (G. T. Worsley), Hillingdon, Uxbridge; Wellington College,
Berks; and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; obtained his
commission as 2nd Lieut. in the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regt. 4
Sept. 1912, and joined the 1st Battn. in Dublin 9 Oct. following. He
was killed in action near Wasmes, during the retreat from Mons, 24 Aug.
1914; _unm._ Col. Martyn, the officer commanding the battn. at the
time of his death and during his two years’ service, wrote: “He was a
boy with a future before him; was beloved by us all, always cheerful,
and a great loss not only to his family but to his regiment and his
country. He was killed at the same time as Major Bereford and Capt.
Phillips, both in his company, which had been sent to help another
battn. in difficulties.”
[Illustration: =Maximilian F. Broadwood.=]
=BROCK, JOHN=, Shipwright, 1st Class, 344374, H.M.S. Hawke; lost
in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._
=BROCK, JOHN RAMSAY=, L.-Sergt., No. 28957 16th Battn. (72nd
Seaforth Highlanders), Canadian Expeditionary Force; only _s._
of George Dunning Brock, of Greattree Estate, Chagford, Devon, by
his wife, Seraphina Wagstaff dau. of Andrew Devoy Ramsay; _b._
Brantford, Ontario, 21 Sept. 1876; educ. Lapford College, North Devon;
went to Canada in Aug. 1903, and was a builder, but on the outbreak
of war enlisted, 18 Aug. 1914; came over with the first contingent,
Oct. 1914, went to the front Feb. 1915, and was killed in action at
Festubert between 18 and 20 May, 1915. He _m._ at Chagford, Devon,
19 Nov. 1894, Rose Edith (1860, 14th Avenue East, Vancouver, B.C.), 2nd
dau. of William Lyddon, of Portland House, Chagford, and has two sons
and three daus.: Jack Ramsay, _b._ 31 March, 1904; Roy Dunning,
_b._ 29 July, 1906; Rita Ramsay, _b._ 30 April, 1900; Violet
Palmer, _b._ 10 Oct. 1901; and Emily Wilfreda, _b._ 14 April,
1911.
[Illustration: =John Ramsay Brock.=]
=BROCKBANK, SIEGFRIED HARRISON=, Private, No. 2559, 7th Battn.
Middlesex Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of James Harrison Brockbank,
by his wife, Nettie Carpenter (the distinguished violinist known as
Madame Nettie Carpenter), dau. of Dr. Wesley M. Carpenter, of New York;
_b._ Highgate, 4 Feb. 1895; educ. Westminster Cathedral Choir
School, and after spending five years there went to St. Edmund’s as
a church student in Sept. 1908. He was placed in the 2nd School of
Rudiments, but showing more than average ability, was promoted to the
1st School of Rudiments at the beginning of the spring term, 1909. At
the end of the year, feeling that he had no vocation to the priesthood,
he left the college and returned to the Choir School, where he remained
for about a year. In Oct. 1910, he entered the Civil Service, but
only remained there 18 months, as by that time a position in a London
bank was offered him, which he accepted. In this profession he was
making rapid progress when the war broke out. Cheerfully sacrificing
all future prospects, he was among the first to join the New Army,
enlisting in the 7th Middlesex Territorials on 10 Aug. Owing to
previous experience in the Civil Service Cadet Corps, where he had
obtained the rank of colour-sergt., he was dispensed from preliminary
training, and on 2 Sept. he left England to take up garrison duty at
Gibraltar. After six months spent at the Mediterranean fortress, he
returned to London about the middle of Feb., and on 12 March left for
active service in France. In a letter dated 27 May, 1915, he wrote:
“Before the scourge, as we call the attack we made or helped to make
on the 9 May, I had been feeling rather seedy for some time back, but
I recovered just in time, and was luckily feeling fit. On the 7th I
took part in what ‘Eye-witness’ in The Times of the 13th describes as
a brilliant little affair of outposts, which took place in front of
our trenches. The next platoon to us was holding the head of a sap, a
sort of trench that ran from our lines slant-wise up to within 30 yards
of the German trench. On the night of the 7th some Allemands raided
the head and got in, but were speedily put to flight. We had sustained
a few casualties, but they left four dead on the spot. While it was
going on a wounded fellow of ours rushed up and said that the Germans
were inside the sap. You can imagine the feelings with which I, one
of the first to reinforce, went up to this sap in the pitch darkness,
expecting every moment to find the Germans in possession. Luckily it
was all over, except for an anxious all-night watch. The next evening
was filled with preparation for the attack. Wire-cutting parties,
ladder carrying parties, grenadiers, and lastly the assaulting troops
coming in at night. We were moved a little in rear occupying a redoubt.
After our bombardment we saw our fellows going over the parapet, their
bayonets gleaming in the lovely sunshine--a stirring sight. We heard
they had carried three lines of enemy trenches. Then the Germans
shelled us, being the supports, and I think the strongest of us got
terrified as the shells burst all around us. We were all heartily glad
when in the evening the order came to man the trenches, and we found
our fellows had been beaten back. The trench (our firing trench) was
full of the remnants of the battns., and the whole air alive with
hubbub. The Germans turned a heavy machine gun fire on to us, and the
artillery started sending red-hot shells across the black sky. Morning
revealed many painful sights, but we were glad to hear that the French
had advanced considerably at the same time as we made our attack. We
had drawn their reinforcements to us. I do not think our casualties
were over heavy, as very many wounded crawled back under cover of
night, and they will mostly recover. I have taken on a job the nature
of which I must not mention, which precludes me from the trenches for
a little while.” This it afterwards transpired was to learn grenade
throwing, some 200 yards behind the firing trenches. On 5 June, the
enemy finding the range of the French headquarters by means of their
aeroplanes, subjected them to heavy shell fire. He fell covered with
wounds, and expired a few minutes later from shock without regaining
consciousness. Writing to his mother, his Capt. said: “He was always
bright and cheerful and a thoroughly good soldier, and was liked and
respected by officers and men alike. His company put a small wooden
cross on his grave with I.H.S. upon it, which they took from a ruined
church near by, knowing he was a Catholic.”
[Illustration: =Siegfried H. Brockbank.=]
=BROCKELBANK, LAURENCE SEYMOUR=, Lieut., 3rd, attached 1st,
Battn. King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regt., _s._ of George Seymour
Brockelbank, of Elm Lodge, Blackheath, member of the London Stock
Exchange, by his wife, Julia, dau. of the late Henry Turner, of Court
Lodge, Knockholt, Kent; _b._ Eliot Park, Blackheath, 21 Sept.
1892; educ. Lindesfurn, Lee and Tonbridge School; entered the army as
2nd Lieut. 3rd Battn. King’s Own, 5 May, 1914, and is believed to have
been killed at the Battle of Cambray, 26 Aug. 1914, being reported
missing from that date. Lieut. Douglas C. Robinson wrote, 1 Nov. 1914:
“On 26 Aug. all the young officers had been accounted for except your
boy. Some of the Lancashire Fusiliers told me when they went up to
clear away the wounded that they saw a very young-looking officer,
the description of which tallied with your son, lying dead absolutely
next to our Colonel (Col. Dykes). Unfortunately we could not get up to
them afterwards.” From a statement made to the Rev. Gabin McFadyeen,
of Saltash, by Private Copperwhaite, who had for some time acted as
Lieut. Brockelbank’s servant, it appears that the “King’s Own” had
been surprised by the German machine guns and lost heavily. Lieut.
Brockelbank led his men heroically after he had been wounded, but a
retreat became necessary, and while that was in progress he was killed
instantaneously by the bursting of a shell. According to the list
compiled by Capt Davy, R.A.M.C., he was buried at Hautcourt, between
Cambray and Le Cateau. He was gazetted Lieut. 2 Feb. 1915; _unm._
[Illustration: =Laurence S. Brockelbank.=]
=FITZHERBERT-BROCKHOLES, THOMAS JOSEPH=, Capt., 2nd Battn. Rifle
Brigade, eldest _s._ of William Joseph Fitzherbert-Brockholes, of
Claughton Hall, Garstang, co. Lancaster, J.P., D.L., C.A., by his 2nd
wife, Blanche Winifred Mary, dau. of the late Major-Gen. the Hon. Sir
Henry Hugh Clifford, V.C., K.C.M.G., C.B.; _b._ London, 4 May,
1887; educ. The Oratory School, Edgbaston, and New College, Oxford;
gazetted to 3rd Battn. Rifle Brigade, then in England, 24 June, 1908,
but exchanged in July, 1910, to the 2nd Battn. then at Calcutta; was
promoted Lieut. 15 Feb. 1911, became Adjutant 21 Feb. 1914. On the
outbreak of war he returned with his battn. to England (Oct.), and went
with it to the Front early in Nov., and was promoted Capt. on the 15th
of that month. He was wounded on 20 Dec., but not seriously, and was
able to remain on duty, and was on constant service with his battn. in
the trenches (with the exception of a short leave of seven days) until
the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, when the 2nd Battn. was given a leading
part in the attack, and was the first to get through the village on 10
March and entrench themselves on the far side of it. Two days later he
was shot through the head while directing the fire of a machine gun
in beating off a violent counter-attack, and died 14 March without
recovering consciousness. Capt. Fitzherbert-Brockholes was mentioned
for his services in F.M. Sir John French’s Despatch of 31 May. When
in India he secured a special certificate at the School of Signalling
at Kasauli, and a First Class at the School of Musketry. He was very
keen and good at games and all kinds of sport, did excellent work in
the cricket field for the Oxford University Authentics and the Green
Jackets, and played polo for his regiment. All who came in contact with
him spoke in the highest terms of his efficiency as a soldier, of his
absolute fearlessness, and of his consideration for others.
[Illustration: =T. J. Fitzherbert-Brockholes.=]
=BROCKIE, DAVID=, Private, No. 75230, A Coy., 29th (Vancouver)
Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, elder _s._ of the late
Thomas Brockie, of Hawthornside, Hawick, co. Roxburgh, Farmer, by his
wife, Anne Henderson, dau. of the late William Renwick, of Byrecleuch
and Chapel Mains, co. Berwick; _b._ Hawthornside afsd., 1 Dec.
1878; educ. Hobkirk Public School, and Teviot Grove Academy, Hawick,
and after a business training went to India, where he was for seven
years with Whitaway, Laidlaw & Co. After a brief visit home he went
to Vancouver about 1911, and after the declaration of war volunteered
and joined the 72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada in Oct. 1914.
He was transferred to the 29th Battn., came over with the second
Contingent, went to France, 17 Sept. 1915, and was mortally wounded on
4 Nov. following, and died two days later in No. 2 Clearing Station at
Bailleul. He was buried in the cemetery there; _unm._ For going
to his assistance when he fell wounded and carrying him to a place of
safety while under heavy fire, L.-Corpl. Alfred J. Hourston was awarded
the D.C.M.
[Illustration: =David Brockie.=]
=BROCKLEHURST, EDWARD HENRY=, Capt., 6th (Rifle) Battn. The King’s
Liverpool Regt. (T.F.), 5th _s._ of the late Henry Brocklehurst,
of Sefton Park, Liverpool, by his wife, Ellen, dau. of William
Hutchings; _b._ Waterloo, near Liverpool, 15 May, 1878; educ.
Harrow, and became a chartered accountant. He joined the volunteers
in 1900 and was made Capt. of the 6th Battn. King’s Regt. 22 June,
1910, when he secured the certificate of proficiency qualifying him
for higher rank. He was on the Special Reserve of officers, and had
been gazetted as regimental instructor of musketry a short time before
war broke out. He immediately volunteered for foreign service, and was
killed while leading a charge at Hill 60, near Ypres, 5 May, 1915;
_unm._
=BROCKLESBY, DENNIS=, Armourer’s Crew, M. 6674, H.M.S. Good Hope;
lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=BROCKWELL, WILLIAM JAMES=, Stoker, Petty Officer, K. 2386, H.M.S.
Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BRODIE, EWEN JAMES=, 11th of Lethen and Coulmony, co. Nairn,
D.L., Capt., 1st Battn. Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, 2nd and only
surviving _s._ of the late James Campbell John Brodie, 9th Laird
of Lethen and Coulmony, Lord Lieut. of co. Nairn, by his wife Fanny
Sophia Constance, dau. of Edmund Thomas Wedgwood Wood, of Henley
Hall, co. Salop; _b._ at Lethen, 17 July, 1878; educ. Harrow and
Trinity College, Cambridge; gazetted as 2nd Lieut. from the Militia
to the 2nd Battn. of the Cameron Highlanders, 26 May, 1900, and was
promoted Lieut. 22 Jan. 1902, and Capt. 3 May 1911. He served in the
Mediterranean, Africa and China, and from 1909 to 1913 was Adjutant to
Lovat Scouts (T.F.), when he rejoined the 1st Battn. of the Camerons
at Edinburgh Castle. On the outbreak of war, in Aug. 1914., he went
to the Front with the Expeditionary Force, took part in the Battle of
the Aisne, and all the fighting preliminary to the First Battle of
Ypres, and fell in action, in the encounter with the Prussian Guards at
Ypres, 11 Nov 1914. At the time of his death he was acting as Adjutant
of his battn. and was one of the only three survivors of the officers
of the regt. who had left Edinburgh Castle ten weeks before. He was
buried near some men of his regt., close to the spot where he fell. He
_m._ 4 Jan. 1911, Marion Louisa, eldest dau. of William Stirling,
of Fairburn and Monar, co. Ross, and had three children, David James,
_b._ 27 Oct. 1911; Peter Ewen, _b._ 6 May, 1914; and Helen
Charlotte, _b._ 22 June, 1913.
[Illustration: =Ewen James Brodie.=]
=BROMLEY, CUTHBERT=, Major and Adjutant, 1st Battn. Lancashire
Fusiliers, _s._ of the late Sir John Bromley, C.B., J.P., formerly
of the Exchequer and Audit Department, Somerset House, afterwards
Accountant General of the Board of Education, by his wife, Marie Louise
(Sutton Corner, Seaford, Sussex), dau. of the late Richard Bowman,
of Maidenhead; _b._ Earl’s Terrace, London, W., 19 Sept. 1878;
educ. St. Paul’s School and received a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the
Lancashire Fusiliers from the Militia, 4 May, 1898, and was promoted
Lieut. 28 Dec. 1898. In Sept. 1899, he was sent from Aldershot to Malta
and received his company, 15 June, 1901. It is interesting to note
the fact that when he received his company he was barely twenty-two,
and he and a junior Subaltern (Gaspard de Coligny Le Marchant) are
said to have been the two youngest captains in the British Army. While
in Malta, the South African War broke out, and in order to be fully
qualified he and Capt Le Marchant joined the Malta Mounted Infantry,
but as his Commanding Officer (Capt. Hamilton) fell ill, he had to
remain behind in Malta temporarily to take his place. In 1901–3 Major
Bromley was seconded for service with the West African Frontier Force,
and took part in the punitive expedition in the Aro country, and had
the West African (S. Nigeria) 1901–2 and Aro medals with clasps. While
in Southern Nigeria he gained the Royal Humane Society’s Certificate
for saving a native’s life from drowning, by holding him up 8½ hours
in the water. During 1906–7, he was Superintendent of Gymnasia, Irish
Command, but resigned this post to rejoin his own regt. the Lancashire
Fusiliers, and in 1909 went with it to India, serving for some time as
Transport Officer. He was appointed Adjutant, 4 May, 1914, and took
keen interest in the regimental sport and in organising the men’s
games. His regt., with others from India, arrived in England 13 Jan.
1915, and started on the Dardanelles Expedition on 15 March, 1915; he
was in the 29th Division and his Brigade (the 86th Infantry) was the
first to land on W. Beach (Lancashire “Landing”) on that memorable
25 April, their duty being to cover the disembarkation of the rest
of the Division. An officer who was there said, “Bromley and Needham
were always forward, leading and cheering on; all were good, but then
were splendid.” On 28 April, Major Bromley was wounded in the thigh,
and when examined by the doctors was found to have been wounded in
the back on the day of the landing. After three weeks in hospital, he
rejoined his regt. on the Gallipoli Peninsula and was again wounded by
shrapnel in the foot on 28 June. An officer wrote: “He was wounded at
the beginning of the charge from our trenches. When he was picked up
he made the men help him forward to lead the attack.” After six weeks
in hospital at Cairo and at Troodos, he started from Alexandria for
Cape Hellas on the ill-fated Royal Edward, with a draft of sixty-four
men, as senior military officer “Commanding the troops on board.” The
ship was torpedoed in the Aegean Sea and sank in about 4½ minutes, on
14 Aug. 1915. Major Bromley had not been well that morning, having a
touch of fever and was the last to jump overboard. He was injured in
the head by wreckage and rendered partially unconscious, and but for
that would undoubtedly have had strength to swim to the Hospital Ship
Sudan. His fate was the more tragic as from boyhood he had always been
such an expert swimmer, and when at Malta swam five miles, from there
to the Island of Gozo. His Commanding Officer wrote: “So passed one
of the bravest officers I have known, my friend for years, and one of
the most popular men in the regt.” He was mentioned in Gen. Sir Ian
Hamilton’s Despatch of 20 May [London Gazette, 5 Aug.], 1915, and had
been gazetted temporary Major [London Gazette, 3 Aug. 1915] to rank as
from 6 June. He was _unm._
[Illustration: =Cuthbert Bromley.=]
=BROMLEY, HERBERT ASSHETON= (Jett), Lieut., No. 3 Coy., 7th Battn
(1st British Columbia Regt.), Canadian Expeditionary Force, yst.
_s._ of the late Sir Henry Bromley, 5th Bt., by his wife, Ada,
only child of Westley Richards; _b._ Stoke Newark, 16 Oct. 1879;
educ. Farnborough and Eton, was Private Secretary to his brother,
Sir Robert Bromley, Bt., Administrator of St. Christopher and Nevis
(1905–6) and afterwards to the Hon. James Dunsmuir, Lieut.-Gov.
of British Columbia; joined the 88th Fusiliers at Victoria, B.C.,
when that battn. was formed three years ago; on the outbreak of war
volunteered for service overseas, was gazetted Lieut. on formation of
Canadian Expeditionary Force, 21 Sept. 1911, and was killed in action
at the second Battle of Ypres, 24 April, 1915; _unm._ Describing
his death, a comrade said: “He was badly wounded in the trenches, but
leaped out and led his men in a magnificent charge, calling out ‘we
have got to win, follow me.’ He was quite alone away in front of his
men and died a glorious death.” His Company Commander, Major R. C.
Cooper, wrote to the Editor as follows: “I would, as the late Lieut.
H. A. Bromley’s Company Commander, like to express my very high
appreciation of him, both as an officer with the welfare of his men at
heart, and as a personal friend. Mr. Bromley was invaluable to me in
France with his intimate knowledge of the language and customs. His
men were devoted to him and missed him greatly when wounded in the
head on the 16 March at Fleurbaix. He returned to us on 27 March and
remained with the battn. up to ‘Our Day’--doing duty in the trenches
from the 14 to the 19 April, two days in billets and then the gas
and subsequent heavy fighting. In Victoria, B.C., he was a member of
the 88th Victoria Fusiliers, some time as a Company Officer and the
remainder as Adjutant. He served with the regt. in the coal strikes
at Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, 1913–14. On the outbreak of war he was
one of the first officers selected for Active Service, being posted
to my company, left for Valcartier, 28 Aug. 1914, and for England, 27
Sept. 1914, arriving at Plymouth, 15 Oct. 1914--four months of rain at
Salisbury Plain and then to France. We all mourn ‘Brom.’ as a pal and
soldier. His last idea, and his was a forlorn hope, was to charge and
scupper some of the Boches before going under himself. His platoon on
21 April lost twenty-one killed, sixteen wounded, three prisoners and
eight wounded and prisoners. This record tells of his work.”
[Illustration: =Herbert Assheton Bromley.=]
=BROOKE, JAMES ANSON OTHO=, =V.C.=, Capt., 2nd Battn. The
Gordon Highlanders, eldest _s._ of Capt. Harry Vesey Brooke, of
Fairley, Countesswells, co. Aberdeen, J.P., D.L., late 92nd Gordon
Highlanders, by his wife, Patricia, only child of James Gregory Moir
Byres, of Tonley, co. Aberdeen, and gdson. of the late Sir Arthur
Brinsley Brooke, of Colebrooke Park, co. Fermanagh, 2nd Bt., M.P.;
_b._ Fairley, Aberdeenshire, 3 Feb. 1884; educ. Wellington and
Sandhurst, and received his commission as 2nd Lieut. in the Gordon
Highlanders, 11 Oct. 1905, and joined the 1st Battn. at Cork in
November. The following year he was promoted Lieut. (5 Aug. 1907) and
transferred to the 2nd battn. in India, where he served till 1913. He
was present at the Delhi Durbar and as Senior Subaltern he was one of
the officers who received new colours from King George, and was awarded
the Durbar medal. In 1913, the regt. went to Egypt and were stationed
there till the outbreak of war, when (Oct. 1914) they were ordered
to the Front. Lieut. Brooke was the Senior Subaltern and acting as
assistant Adjutant. The 2nd battn. of the Gordons landed at Zeebrugge
and after many days’ severe fighting, the regt. along with the rest
of the Division found themselves on 29 Oct. attacked by very superior
forces at Gheluvelt. Here it was that Lieut. Brooke was killed, having,
as his Col. wrote, by his gallantry “saved the situation.” The Germans
having broken through, he changed the formation of the line three
times and finally led an assault on, and captured an important trench
at a most critical moment. For this he was mentioned in Despatches
and awarded the Victoria Cross, the official record stating: “For
conspicuous bravery and great ability near Gheluvelt on 29 Oct. in
leading two attacks on the German trenches under heavy rifle and
machine-gun fire, regaining a lost trench at a very critical moment.
He was killed on that day. By his marked coolness and promptitude on
this occasion Lieut. Brooke prevented the enemy from breaking through
our line at a time when a general counter-attack could not have been
organised.” At Sandhurst he was Capt. of the Shooting Eight, was senior
Colour-Sergt. of the College, won the Sword of Honour, tied for the
Saddle, etc. He was _unm._
[Illustration: =James Anson Otho Brooke.=]
=BROOKE, VICTOR REGINALD, C.I.E., D.S.O.=, Major, 9th (Queen’s
Royal) Lancers, 5th _s._ of the late Sir Victor Alexander Brooke,
of Colebrooke, 3rd Bt. by his wife, Alice Sophia (Villa Ballenia, St.
Jean de Luz, B.P., France), 2nd dau. of Sir Alan Edward Bellingham, 3rd
Bt.; _b._ 53, Eaton Square, London, 22 Jan. 1873; educ. at Pau,
Basses Pyrénées and at Storrington, and obtained his commission as 2nd
Lieut. in the 9th Lancers, 12 Dec. 1894, and became Lieu. 29 April,
1896, Capt. 6 May, 1901, Major 7 June, 1905, and temporary Lieut.-Col.
1 June, 1907. He served in the South African War, 1899–1902, where he
greatly distinguished himself. He took part in the advance on, and
relief of, Kimberley, including the actions at Belmont, Enslin, Modder
River and Magersfontein, and in the operations in the Orange Free State
from Feb. to May, 1900, including the actions at Paardeberg, Poplar
Grove, and Karee Siding, and was A.D.C. to the Lieut.-Gen. commanding
the Headquarters staff in South Africa from Nov. 1901 to Sept. 1902.
He was wounded in the Transvaal, and was twice mentioned in despatches
[16 April, 1901, and 31 May, 1902], and was awarded the Distinguished
Service Order, the Queen’s medal with four clasps and the King’s medal
with two. From 1902 to 1907 he was A.D.C. and then Assistant Mil.
Secretary to Lord Kitchener, and was sent by him to Kabul in 1904,
and afterwards became Mil. Secretary to the Viceroy of India (Lord
Minto), and was made a C.I.E. in 1910. He returned with Lord Minto Dec.
1910, and served with his regt. at Canterbury and Tidworth. On the
outbreak of the European War he went to France with the Expeditionary
Force and died in hospital at Compiègne of wounds received in action
during the retreat from Mons, 29 Aug. 1914; _unm._ The following
appreciation by “A Friend” appeared in the Daily Telegraph of 12 Sept.
1914: “It was a fine ending to a fine life, Victor Brooke was known,
if only as Military Secretary in India, to thousands; but it was by
tens of thousands that he was liked and loved. He was almost the first
man wounded in the South African War. The writer picked up the diary
of a wounded Boer, in which was set down the enemy’s regret that so
good a friend and fighter had been as they thought killed. Upon my
conscience, I believe that the Boers who wounded him in 1899 will take
an intentional and bitter revenge for his death in 1914, when they
came to grips with the Germans in South West Africa. As to the manner
of his death and burial, there is something to be recorded. He died on
the night of 29 Aug. and he was buried early next morning at Chateau
d’Annel, near Compiègne. The house had been turned into a hospital by
Mrs. Depew, to whom most men who speak English will be glad to pay in
full a willing debt of gratitude whenever and wherever the claim is
presented. They left at eleven on the same day. I now quote the words
of others: ‘The estate carpenter made his coffin, and one of the old
men on the estate dug his grave. After the burial the old man said to
Mrs. Depew, “Regardez, Madame.” He pointed out a gravestone to the
north of the grave, which had the inscription underneath the date,
1870, “Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur.” It belonged to one of the
family which owned Chateau d’Annel in those days, all of whom were
buried there. Beside them the old grave-digger thought it right to lay
Victor Brook--Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur indeed.”
[Illustration: =Victor Reginald Brooke.=]
=BROOKE, VIVIAN CYRIL=, Private, No. 98, A Coy., 12th Battn.,
3rd Infantry Brigade, Australian Imperial Force, 2nd _s._ of the
late Robert Parkinson Brooke, of Tasmania, formerly of India, Indigo
Planter, by his wife, Amy (Rialannah, Swanston Street, New Town,
Hobart, Tasmania), _b._ New Town, Tasmania, 19 June, 1887; educ.
Queen’s College and Friend’s High School, Hobart, Tasmania; was a
cashier in the Commonwealth Bank, Hobart, but on the outbreak of war
volunteered and enlisted 20 Aug. 1914. He left for Egypt with the first
Expeditionary Force; took part in the landing at Gaba Tepe on 25 April,
1915, when the 12th Battn. held the post of honour as covering party;
was wounded and taken prisoner on that occasion and died a prisoner of
war in the Turkish Military Hospital at Biga, Asia Minor, 9 May, 1915;
_unm._
[Illustration: =Vivian Cyril Brooke.=]
=BROOKE, WALTER=, Sergt., 6506, 26 Coy. R.E., _s._ of Alfred
Brooke, of Oxford Road, Mistley, by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of George
Scott, of Sutton; _b._ Lawford, co. Essex, 3 Feb. 1885; educ.
Mistley Wesleyan School; enlisted in the R.E. in 1899, and was killed
in action by a shell, 10 Nov. 1914; _unm._
[Illustration: =Walter Brooke.=]
=BROOKER, HORACE BRIAN=, Rifleman, 9th (Queen Victoria’s Rifles)
London Regt., only _s._ of Horace Sidney Brooker, of Queen’s Road,
Weybridge, Draper and Outfitter, by his wife, Kate, dau. of John Jonas
Couzens; _b._ Weybridge, 20 June, 1888; educ. St. James School
there, and enlisted in the 9th London Regt. 21 Aug. 1914, going into
camp three days later. He was home only once subsequently, for a few
hours, immediately preceding his departure for the front on 2 Nov.
After a fortnight’s training in France, he went with his regt. straight
into the firing line, and there he remained, with intervals of relief,
right up to the memorable fight for possession of Hill 60, where he was
killed in action, 21 April, 1915; _unm._ In his last letter, dated
14 April, he referred to a visit of Zeppelins which had dropped 11
bombs within 200 yards of the regt., making holes 24 ft. in diameter.
A comrade (Rifleman Barry) wrote: “I have been closely associated with
Brian since we came out in November last, and during the dreary months
of bad weather in the trenches his cheery influence did much to keep us
going. There is not the slightest doubt that the hill would have been
lost but for the timely arrival of our regt. and the courage shown both
by officers and men, who were determined to hang on like grim death,
even when some men of other regts. were beginning to give way. No. 1
platoon had to get out of the trenches and charge across the open and
occupy a small German trench in front, and it was while doing this that
Brian was killed.” Brooker was a well-known Surrey athlete, he had
captained the Weybridge Football Club for several seasons, and achieved
international A.F.A. honours, thrice accompanying representative teams
to the Continent.
[Illustration: =Horace B. Brooker.=]
=BROOKER, WILLIAM JAMES=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 1282), 199598, H.M.S.
Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov.
1914.
=BROOKING, CHARLES WILLIAM=, Leading Seaman, 234617, H.M.S.
Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BROOKS, ALFRED HAROLD=, Private R.M.L.I. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 1888),
late Ch./12955 H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept.
1914.
=BROOKS, AUGUSTUS=, Private, No. 27310, C Coy. 15th Battn. (48th
Highlanders of Toronto), Canadian Expeditionary Force; _b._ about
1889; was admitted to Dr. Barnardo’s Homes, 16 Oct. 1895; emigrated to
Canada in July, 1898, and settled at Riga, North-West Territory, the
reports received concerning him being “uniformly good over the whole
period of his stay in Canada”; volunteered for service overseas on the
outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; left Canada with the first contingent in
Oct.; went to France, Feb. 1915; was wounded in the left shoulder at
Langemarck, and was in hospital for a time, and was killed in action at
Ypres, 23 April, 1915; _unm._
[Illustration: =Augustus Brooks.=]
=BROOKS, GEORGE=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4515), S.S.
103523, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of
Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=BROOKS, JAMES VINCENT=, Private, No. 6/203, C Coy., Canterbury
Infantry Battn., New Zealand Expeditionary Force, _s._ of James
Brooks, of 88, Valley, Wakefield, Nelson, New Zealand, Farmer;
_b._ Wakefield, New Zealand, 3 July, 1894; educ. there;
volunteered and joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 18 Aug.
1914; left for Egypt with the main body in Oct.; took part in the
landing at the Dardanelles, 25 April, 1915, and was killed in action
there, 8 May following; _unm._
=BROOKS, ROWLAND CAUSER=, 2nd Lieut., 1/6th Battn. The Manchester
Regt (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of Buckley Brooks, of The Manor House,
Hale Barns, co. Chester, by his wife, Anna, dau. of Henry Causer,
of Melbourne, Victoria; _b._ Cheetham, Manchester, 12 April,
1892; educ. Merton House, Penmanmaur, and Dean Close, Cheltenham;
gazetted 2nd Lieut. 2/6th Battn. Manchester Regt. 31 Oct. 1914; joined
the 1st Battn. in Egypt early in 1915, and proceeded with it to the
Dardanelles. He was killed in action, whilst leading his men in the
famous charge at Krithia on 4 June, 1915, from which only five officers
and less than 200 men returned out of the 6th Battn.; _unm._
[Illustration: =Rowland Causer Brooks.=]
=BROOKSBANK, HUGH GODFREY=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. Alexandra, Princess
of Wales’ Own Yorkshire Regt., 3rd _s._ of Edward Clitherow
Brooksbank, of Healaugh Old Hall, Tadcaster, late Major, Yorkshire
Artillery, by his wife, Katherine Graham, dau. of the late Hugh Morris
Lang, of Broadmeadows, Selkirk, and grandson of Edward Brooksbank, Lord
of the Manor and Patron of Healaugh; _b._ 24 Nov. 1893; educ.
Radley; received his commission in the Yorkshire’s, 5 Feb. 1913, and
was promoted Lieut. 15 Nov. 1914. He was severely wounded at the first
Battle of Ypres, 2 Nov. 1914, and died in London 16 Dec. following;
_unm._ He was twice mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s
Despatches [16 Jan. and 31 May, 1915] for conspicuous gallantry in the
field, and writing of his conduct at Ypres the senior officer of the
regt. said: “A braver lad never stepped this earth; he was left in
command of B Coy. when all his seniors had been shot. He commanded it
like a veteran and on two occasions was largely responsible for the
regt. being saved. He has been recommended for decoration.”
[Illustration: =Hugh Godfrey Brooksbank.=]
=BROOMHAM, WILLIAM=, Leading Seaman (R.F.R., B. 2605), 172555,
H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BROSTER, JESSEP=, Ship’s Cook, 343743, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in
action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BROTCHIE, ROBERT TRAILL=, Surgeon, R.N.V.R., only _s._ of
James Brotchie, of Swanney, Orkney, Tea Merchant, by his wife, Janet
Catharine, dau. of Richard Brotchie, of Yorkshire; _b._ Crouch
End, London, 29 Aug. 1885; educ. St. Paul’s School, London, and the
London Hospital; served in the British Red Crescent Expedition in
Tripoli, 1912, for which he received a medal; joined R.N.V.R. 13
Nov. 1913, and before being called up on 4 Aug. 1914 was in practice
in Tarbert Loch, Tyne. He was lost on board H.M.S. Bulwark when
that ship was blown up at Sheerness, 26 Nov. 1914. He _m._ at
Kingston-on-Thames, 6 July, 1910, Theo., 4th dau. of Robert Horne, of
Kendal, co. Westmoreland, and had three children: Lindsay Drummond,
_b._ 10 Jan. 1912 (deceased), Jean Muriel and Joan Dora, twins,
_b._ 27 May, 1913.
[Illustration: =Robert Traill Brotchie.=]
=BROTHERSTON, ROBERT THOMAS=, Private, No 2605, 7th Durham L.I.,
2nd _s._ of James Brotherston, of Rowlandson Terrace, Sunderland,
engineer, by his wife, Jeannie, dau. of Alexander Henderson; _b._
Sunderland, 26 Dec. 1894; educ. Cowan Terrace Juvenile School, and
Argyle House School, Sunderland; joined the 7th Durham L.I. 6 Sept.
1914, and died at the Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, 5 May, 1915, of
wounds received in action. He was buried in the East Cemetery there;
_unm._
[Illustration: =Robert T. Brotherston.=]
=BROTHERTON, RICHARD=, Private, No. 6015, 1st Battn. Coldstream
Guards, 1st _s._ of Richard Brotherton, of 34, Lindum Avenue,
Lincoln, formerly an Engine Driver, Great Northern Railway, by his
wife, Betsy, dau. of John Graves; _b._ Lincoln, 2 Feb. 1881;
educ. St. Peter at Gowts public school there; enlisted 18 Jan. 1905,
and served three years with the colours, then joining the Huddersfield
Borough Police Force. On mobilization, 5 Aug. 1914, he was called up,
went to France with the Expeditionary Force, and was reported missing
after the fighting at Ypres, 29 Oct. 1914, and is assumed to have been
killed on or about that date. He _m._ at Lincoln, 24 May, 1908,
Fanny (8, Fairfield Street, off Monk’s Road, Lincoln), yst. dau. of the
late George Brown, of Poolham Hall, Horncastle, and had a posthumous
son, George Richard, _b._ 9 (_d._ 31) Jan. 1915.
[Illustration: =Richard Brotherton.=]
=BROUGH, HUGH=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4819), S.S. 104209,
H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1
Nov. 1914.
=BROUGHTON, ERNEST CHAMIER=, Lieut.-Col., 3rd Battn. York and
Lancaster Regt., _s._ of Robert John Porcher Broughton, M.A.,
Cambridge, Solicitor by Royal Appointment to the Coldstream Guards;
_b._ London 3 June, 1858; educ. Harrow and Sandhurst; entered the
Army as a Sub-Lieut. in the 6th Foot in Nov. 1876, and was transferred
to the 65th (2nd North Riding) Foot in Jan. 1878, and served with them
in India. In 1884 his regt. was ordered home, but were disembarked at
Suakim, and took part in the Soudan Campaign, including the Battles of
El Teb and Tamai. He got his company in 1885 and field rank in 1894
when he was posted to the 2nd Battn. York and Lancaster Regt. (the
old 84th) in South Africa and subsequently served in Mauritius and
India till 1901, when he retired. Immediately on his arrival home he
joined the 3rd Battn. (Doncaster Militia) of his old regt. as a Capt.
Three months later he was appointed Major for service in the South
African War, and at the close of that campaign reverted to a company
command. In 1908 he was again promoted to field rank, thus gaining the
unusual distinction of being three times a Major. Three months later
he received the honorary rank of Lieut.-Col., and 20 April, 1909, was
promoted to substantive rank to command the 3rd York and Lancaster
Special Reserve, and had two extensions of service. He died in the
Armstrong College Military Hospital, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 17 Dec. 1914,
while in command of his regt. then on east coast defence duty. Col.
Broughton _m._ at Brighton, 2 Feb. 1888, Jane Henrietta King (The
Cedar, Castle Donington, near Derby), dau. of Major Benjamin Bloomfield
Keane, Ceylon Rifles, by his wife, Rebecca Kate, dau. of Capt. Harloe
Dennis, of Galway, but had no issue. For over 25 years he was Editor of
the regimental journal, “The Tiger and the Rose.”
[Illustration: =Ernest C. Broughton.=]
=BROWN, ALBERT EDWARD=, Officer’s Steward, 2nd Class, L. 4305,
H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BROWN, ALBERT MOORE=, Private, No. 5011, 1st Battn. Coldstream
Guards, 3rd _s._ of Edward Brown; enlisted 16 Feb. 1903, went to
France with the Expeditionary Force in Aug. 1914, was wounded on 14
Sept., and was first reported as missing on 2 Jan. 1915, and later, to
have been killed on that date. He _m._ at Offenham, 16 May, 1914,
Emma (Offenham, near Eversham), dau. of James Clarke.
=BROWN, ALBERT VICTOR=. D.C.M., L.-Corpl., No. 4943, 2nd Battn.
Coldstream Guards, _s._ of Edward Brown, of 34, Cemetery Road,
Forest Gate; _b._ co. Middlesex; enlisted as a Boy, 2 Jan. 1903;
became a Driver 5 Aug. 1908, and L.-Corpl. 26 May, 1914; served with
the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 12 Aug. 1914; was
awarded the Distinguished Conduct medal [London Gazette, 17 Dec. 1914]
“for gallantry on 28 Sept. 1914, in assisting to remove into safety the
wounded who were lying exposed in the open,” and was killed in action
at Rentel, 5 Nov. following. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now
Lord) French’s Despatch of 8 Oct. [London Gazette, 9 Dec.] 1914.
=BROWN, ALBERT WILLIAM=, Private, No. 63087, 3rd Battn. (Canadian
Grenadier Guards) Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Albert
Charles Brown, of Balsham, co. Cambs., by his wife, Mary, dau. of James
Purkiss; _b._ Balsham, 19 Aug. 1889; educ. County Council school
there, and went to Canada, 22 March, 1912. He had joined the Canadian
Grenadiers in June, 1913, and on the outbreak of war volunteered for
foreign service, came over with the 2nd Contingent, and after a period
of training at Shorncliffe went to the Western front. He had only
been in France a month when he was killed in action, 26 May, 1915;
_unm._
[Illustration: =Albert William Brown.=]
=BROWN, ALEXANDER BALFOUR=, Private, No. 9695, 1st Battn. Scots
Guards, _s._ of William Brown, of Newlyle, co. Forfar; _b._
Ceres, Coupar, co. Fife; enlisted 2 Sept. 1914; served with the
Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 25 Jan. 1915.
=BROWN, ARTHUR EDWARD=, Sergt., No. 692, 3rd Dragoon Guards (C
Squadron), yst. _s._ of Thomas Brown, of Barlby, near Selby,
Farmer; _b._ Kirkdeighton, 1889; educ. Barlby; enlisted about
1907, and when war was declared was in Egypt with his regt. He came
home, went to the Front on 9 Nov., was wounded in action at Poperinghe
on the 16th, and died two days later, 18 Nov. 1914. He _m._ at
Aldershot, (--), and left one dau.
=BROWN, ARTHUR KENNISH=, Private, No. 6188, 7th Platoon, 2nd
Coy., 1st Battn., Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of the late
Rev. William Cowell Brown, by his wife, Fannie (20, Wellington Road,
Brighton), dau. of William Isaac Lefeaux; _b._ Dalston, London,
22 May, 1878; educ. Coopers’ Company School, London, and Manor House
School (Dr. Maxwell’s), Clapham; went to Canada in April, 1913;
enlisted at London, Ontario, about a fortnight after war was declared;
came over with the 1st Contingent, and after training on Salisbury
Plain during the winter, went to France in Feb. 1915, and was killed in
action near Festubert, 23 May, 1915; _unm._ The following report
in connection with his death was sent by the Canadian Record Office:
“On the night of 23–24 May our company was out on a working party. The
work in question was the digging of a trench in front of the firing
line. The men were working in pairs, and I was detailed with Private
Brown. After working for about three hours, we were observed by the
enemy, who immediately opened on us with artillery fire. The first
shell landed four feet in front of me and a piece of the casing struck
Private Brown in the head, killing him instantly. I cannot say what
was done with his body, but I understand that the company holding the
front line brought it in early the following morning. I believe he was
buried in rear of our first line trench. This was at Festubert. It is
impossible to give map location of the spot referred to.”
[Illustration: =Arthur K. Brown.=]
=BROWN, BERTRAM=, Private, No. 2524, 1/9th Battn., Royal Scots
(Highlanders) (T.F.), _s._ of late George Brown, by his wife,
Christina Jane Adie (15, Warrender Park Terrace, Edinburgh), dau.
of the late William Mitchell, of Leith; _b._ Leith, 27 Sept.
1892; educ. Edinburgh: prior to the outbreak of war was serving as
2nd Engineer on the s.s. Glitra, which was sunk by U-17, being one of
the first of our merchant ships to suffer that fate. Brown and his
comrades were compelled to row to the Norwegian coast in their boats.
A week later (31 Oct.) he enlisted in the “Dandy Ninth,” and was shot
by a sniper at Ypres, 9 April, 1915, when entering the trenches with
supplies; _unm._
=BROWN, CHARLES=, Private, No. 5171, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards,
_s._ of John Brown, of Wookey, Wells, Somerset; _b._ co.
Somerset; enlisted 24 Aug. 1903; served with the Expeditionary Force in
France and Flanders from 12 Aug. 1914; killed in action at Rentel, 8
Nov. 1914; _unm._
=BROWN, CHARLES ALFRED=, Trooper, No. 830, Royal Canadian Dragoons,
Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Charles Ambrose Brown, of
93, Harcourt Avenue, Toronto, Canada (who served with the 12th York
Rangers in the Fenian raid, 1866); by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of John
J. Lunan; _b._ Markham, York, co. Ontario, 1 March, 1883; educ.
Toronto; joined the 1st Canadian Garrison Artillery at Halifax, N.S.,
in Feb. 1900, and after serving two years, came home and enlisted in
the 3rd Canadian Mounted Rifles for service in South Africa, being
given the rank of Corpl. He afterwards served in the Royal North West
Mounted Police, and was one of the body of picked men sent over to
attend the Coronation of King George and received the Silver Coronation
Medal. On the outbreak of the European War, he re-enlisted 19 Aug.
1914; came over with the first contingent, 1 Oct. 1914; went to France
April, 1915, and was killed in action at Messines, 20 Sept. 1915;
_unm._
=BROWN, EDWARD=, Private, No. 81105, 8th (formerly 32nd) Battn.,
Canadian Expeditionary Force, 3rd _s._ of George Edward Brown, of
Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Canada, formerly cashier at the Woolley
and North Gawber Collieries, Barnsley, now farming at Lloydminster, by
his wife, Louisa, dau. of Richard Horner, of Outwood, New Wakefield;
_b._ Darton, near Barnsley, co. York, 5 Aug. 1888; educ. Darton
Grammar School and St. Mary’s Church School, Barnsley; went to Canada
with his family, with the Barr party of Colonists, leaving Liverpool,
30 March, 1903, and reached what is now known as the Lloydminster
District in the following May, after trekking about 200 miles from
Saskatoon, the nearest railway point at that time. After the outbreak
of war he volunteered and enlisted at Lloydminster, 10 Nov. 1914; came
over in March, 1915, went to the Front 26–27 April, 1915; was seriously
wounded on the night of 20–21 May, 1915, at or near Festubert, and died
on the 23rd; _unm._ He was buried in the ground of Hinges Chateau.
[Illustration: =Edward Brown.=]
=BROWN, FREDERICK GEORGE=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 15571. H.M.S.
Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off
the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=BROWN, FREDERICK JAMES=, Private, R.M.L.I. (Ports.), 7549, H.M.S.
Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov.
1914.
=BROWN, FREDERICK WILLIAM=, Private, No. 10327, 3rd Battn.
Coldstream Guards, _s._ of William Brown, of 2, Treadway
Road, Hackney Road, N.E.; _b._ co. Middlesex; served with the
Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action at Cuinchy, 6
Feb. 1915.
=BROWN, GEORGE=, Stoker, Petty Officer, 306510, H.M.S. Hawke; lost
in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._
=BROWN, GEORGE=, Private, No. 7870, 1st Battn. Scots Guards,
_s._ of William Brown, of Burnside Cottage, Newmill, Keith;
_b._ Keith, co. Banff; enlisted 24 March, 1911, aged 20; served
with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; reported missing, 11 Nov.
1914; _unm._
=BROWN, GEORGE FREDERICK=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 15562, H.M.S.
Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off
the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=BROWN, GEORGE SHIPTON=, L.-Corpl., R.M.L.I. (Ports.), 10513,
H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1
Nov. 1914.
=BROWN, GEORGE WILLIAM=, Private, No' 8563, 1st Suffolk Regt.,
2nd _s._ of Frederick William Brown, of Chaplin’s Cottage, Caple
St. Mary, near Ipswich, formerly of Gosbeck, Suffolk, Shepherd, by
his wife, Mary Ann, dau. of William Dye, of Helmingham; _b._
Stowmarket, Suffolk, 12 Aug. 1893; educ. Ashbocking and Gosbeck
schools; joined the Army 18 June, 1912, and was killed in action 7 May,
1915; _unm._
[Illustration: =George William Brown.=]
=BROWN, HARRY JAMES=, Seaman, R.N.R., 4010A, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost
in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BROWN, HEDLEY=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 15474, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost
in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BROWN, HENRY AUGUSTUS=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 10013), 206254, H.M.S.
Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BROWN, HERBERT HENRY=, Bugler, R.M.A., 11965, H.M.S. Aboukir;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=HURST-BROWN, DUDLEY=, 2nd Lieut., R.F.A., yst. _s._ of W.
Hurst-Brown, of Hurstbourne, 62, Oxford Gardens, W.; _b._ 8 June,
1897; educ. at Cardwallis, Maidenhead, and Winchester, where he was in
the O.T.C. It had been intended that he should proceed to Oxford in the
autumn, but war breaking out in the interval, he offered his services
and received his commission in the Special Reserve on 11 Aug. 1914. He
was at the Front five months, during which time he went through some of
the most severe fighting, but escaped injury until receiving his fatal
wounds in action in Flanders, 15 June, 1915. He died the same day;
_unm._ In a letter received the day before his death he stated how
glad he was he went to the Front, although the fighting was becoming
something frightful, and that he saw but little chance as a junior
officer of ever getting safely home again, and concluded the letter
with the famous Latin epitaph of Horace, “Dulce et decorum est pro
patria mori.”
=BROWN, JAMES=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 8655), S.S. 105081,
H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BROWN, JAMES=, Stoker, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off
Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=BROWN, JAMES CARTMELL DENNISON=, 2nd Lieut., 5th Battn. Durham
L.I. (T.F.), yr. _s._ of Sir Frank Brown, of Norton Priory,
Stockton-on-Tees, D.L., by his wife, Charlotte, dau. of John Hedley,
of South Hetton, co. Durham; _b._ Stockton-on-Tees, 2 Sept. 1893;
educ. Rugby (1907), and Pembroke College, Cambridge (1912). On the
outbreak of war he at once applied for a commission, and was gazetted
2nd Lieut. to the Durham L.I., 28 Aug. 1914. He went to France on 17
April, 1915, for divisional training, but consequent on the German
attack with asphixiating gas his division was at once pushed to the
front and engaged, and took part in the fighting around Ypres, 23 and
25 April, 1915. On Sunday, 25 April, he was wounded twice. He was first
treated at Poperinghe Hospital, then removed to Hazebrouck, where he
died on 27 April, 1915. His Colonel wrote: “He was one of the best
officers we had, and did his duty to the last. On the day he was hit
he had done valuable reconnaissance work in the morning, and, when
hit, had taken part in a very good little attack. Although wounded in
two places, he showed his pluck by returning unhelped to our lines.
It is only by such examples as this that we may hope to conquer the
enemy and keep up the tradition of the country.” A brother officer also
wrote: “We all liked him very much, he was such a cheerful fellow, and
so conscientious that I knew that anything entrusted to him, however
slight or wearisome, would be properly carried out.” The Medical wrote:
“He was a tremendous favourite with us all, and I can say I never had
to attend to a pluckier lad.” His elder brother, Lieut. Frank D. Brown,
of the same battn., was wounded near Ypres in May, 1915, and is again
(1916) on active service.
=BROWN, JOHN ALEXANDER=, Rifleman, No. 3215, 17th Battn. (Poplar
and Stepney Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of William
Brown, Corpl., A Coy. 1st Battn. (London Irish) The London Regt.
(with 28 years’ service), by his wife, Sarah; _b._ Old Street,
Shoreditch, 10 April, 1876; educ. St. John’s Road Higher Grade School
there; served 12 years with the London Irish, and after the outbreak of
war joined the Poplar and Stepney Rifles, 10 Sept. 1914; was wounded at
the Battle of Loos, 25 Sept. 1915, and died in King George’s Hospital,
Stamford Street, 21 Nov. following. He _m._ at Hoxton, 4 Jan.
1897, Alice Rosina (18, Hemsworth Street, Hoxton), dau. of John Brown,
and had seven children: John Alexander, _b._ 2 Aug. 1902; George
Arthur, _b._ 22 March, 1905; William Charles Joseph, _b._ 3
April, 1907; Alice Rosina, _b._ 23 July, 1897; Minnie, _b._
18 Sept. 1900; Florence Marion, _b._ 22 Sept. 1910; and Blanche
Mabel, _b._ 16 Sept. 1912.
[Illustration: =John Alexander Brown.=]
=BROWN, JOHN EDWARD GUY=, Lieut., 1st Battn. The Queen’s Own Royal
West Kent Regt., yst. _s._ of Alexander Francis Garden Brown,
of Magonet-Stoke Gabriel, co. Devon, by his wife, Charlotte Mary,
dau. of James William Alston, of Stockbriggs, co. Lanark; _b._
Swindrigemuir, co. Ayr, 28 Aug. 1892, and was educ. at Bradfield
College. He received his commission in the 2nd Battn. of the Royal
West Kent Regt., then in India, on 20 Sept. 1911, when just 19.
Having been applied for in 1913, as an officer for the 64th Pioneers
by the Commandant, he successfully passed two examinations in Indian
languages, winning thereby a substantial prize given by the Indian
Government, and intended to pass the final in the autumn of 1914. He
became Lieut. on 1 July, 1914, and was at home on leave when war broke
out. He was then attached on its formation to the 6th Service Battn.
of the Royal West Kents in the new army. In Oct. 1914, in consequence
of the heavy losses sustained by the 1st Battn. in the Battle of
Ypres, he was sent out to join it, but by an error in the Army List
copied in the newspaper accounts he was given as attached to the Royal
Berkshire Regt. On leaving the 6th Battn. his commanding officer wrote:
“I am very sorry to lose your son; he did very good work while with
my battn. and I can ill afford to lose him. However, his work will
bear its fruit in the future.” He spent the winter in the trenches
between Messines and Zillebeke and went through some heavy fighting in
Nov. when the battn. lost so many officers, that he, though a junior,
had to act as company commander during the months of Dec. and Jan.
During this time in the trenches he passed a course of instruction
under the R.E. officer attached to the battn. which qualified him as a
regimental scout and bomb officer, a post he held at the time of his
death. He was killed in action at Hill 60, near Zillebeke, Flanders.
22 Feb. 1915; _unm._ His commanding officer, Col. P. M. Robinson,
wrote: “I regret your son’s death immensely, he was a gallant man and
a good officer, always ready to do rather than to talk. He had won my
admiration on several occasions during the time I have been commanding
this battn., and I had a very high opinion of him. I much regret his
career has been cut short”; and Capt. Molony (who joined the battn.
in Feb. from the reserve of officers): “During the short time I knew
your son I acquired a very real respect and a great liking for him.
This being my first experience of trench work, he really commanded the
company, while I watched his methods and learnt from him. I was very
much struck by his thorough efficiency as well as his imperturbable
courage. Having left the Army nearly eight years ago and never before
having been in action, I badly wanted someone to put me in the way of
it. No one could have done it more thoroughly and at the same time
tactfully than your son. During this time he was offered and accepted
the very honourable, but at the same time dangerous position of battn.
scout officer. I did not like it much because it would mean that I
should very often be deprived of his assistance, but I heard the
commanding officer, when discussing his suitableness, say among other
things ‘He is as brave as a lion.’ He is a great loss to the regt.
and his qualities would have carried him very far in his profession
had he been spared. I hope it will be some consolation to you to know
that he did not suffer. When I heard he was hit I went to him at once.
He was quite unconscious, and remained so until he died, perhaps some
two minutes later.” Speaking of his death, the Adjutant said: “He was
setting a splendid example, and, regardless of danger, was walking
about laughing at the bombs, and greatly encouraging his men by his
behaviour.”
[Illustration: =John Edward G. Brown.=]
=BROWN, JOHN SAMUEL=, Chief Armourer, 341170, H.M.S. Cressy; lost
in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BROWN, JOHN SAMUEL=, A.B., 201534 (Chat.), H.M.S. Good Hope; lost
in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=BROWN, NORMAN=, Private, No. 12/1569, 15th North Auckland
Infantry, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Arthur Brown,
formerly of co. Down, Ireland, by his wife, Mary (44, Springfield Road,
Christchurch, New Zealand), dau. of Abernethy Patterson; _b._
Christchurch, New Zealand, March, 1881; educ. St. Alban’s School,
Christchurch; volunteered Dec. 1914, and died of wounds at Gaba Tepe,
11 May, 1915; _unm._
[Illustration: =Norman Brown.=]
=BROWN, NORMAN McLEOD=, Sergt., No. 1057, 1/14th Battn. (London
Scottish) The London Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of Robert Brown, of
Kirkcaldy, co. Fife, Draper, by his wife, Mary Davidson, dau. of David
Findlay; _b._ Kirkcaldy, 16 Nov. 1888; educ. High School there;
entered the Civil Service and received an appointment in the India
Office, where he was engaged till he volunteered for foreign service on
the outbreak of war. He had been a member of the London Scottish for
some seven years, went to France with them as a corpl., was promoted
Sergt. at the Front, and at the time of his death had been recommended
for a commission. He was shot in the trenches at Givenchy by a sniper,
24 Dec. 1914, and was buried in the cemetery there; _unm._
[Illustration: =Norman McLeod Brown.=]
=BROWN, OSCAR=, Lieut., 7th Lancers, Indian Army, attd. 4th
Dragoon Guards, 8th _s._ of the late William Hooper Masters Brown,
of Highfield House, Sherborne, co. Dorset, by his wife, Mary, dau. of
William James, of Pembroke, _b._ Sherborne, 20 May, 1888; educ.
Sherborne School, and Sandhurst; gazetted to the 48th Northamptonshire
Regt. 19 Sept. 1908, and promoted Lieut. 7 May, 1910. In Sept. 1912
he exchanged into the Indian Army, and joined the 7th (Hariana)
Lancers. While riding for the Delhi Cup in 1913 his horse fell and
injured him to such an extent that he was invalided home, and on the
outbreak of the war, being still in England, he was attached to the
4th Dragoon Guards, going to France with them in Sept. 1914. He was
killed in action by a shell at Ypres, 24 April, 1915, and was buried at
Elverdinghe; _unm._
=BROWN, PHILIP GEORGE MORTIMER=, Private, No. 9704, 5th Battn.
(London Rifle Brigade) The London Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of the
late Frederick Robert Brown, Solicitor, by his wife, Emily Louisa
(Thirlmere, Dukesthorpe Road, Sydenham, S.E.), dau. of George Phillips,
of Beckenham, _b._ Sundridge Park, co. Kent, 15 Oct. 1896; educ.
The Hall, Sydenham Preparatory School, and Dulwich College. He joined
the London Rifle Brigade early in 1914, and on the outbreak of war was
with his regt. at Eastbourne for the midsummer manœuvres. Volunteering
for foreign service, he left with his regt. for France early in Nov.
1914, and was killed in action at Ypres, 3 May, 1915; _unm._ His
commanding officer wrote: “He died doing his duty to the last, and was
buried the same night. After he was slightly wounded himself, he spent
all his time attending to other wounded friends, and it was whilst
performing this duty that he was killed.”
[Illustration: =Philip G. M. Brown.=]
=BROWN, WALTER GILBERT=, Seaman, R.N.R., 13630, H.M.S. Aboukir;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BROWN= (_alias_ =BROWNING=), =WILLIAM=, Stoker,
1st Class (N.C.S.), 298889, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off
Coronel, on coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=WREFORD-BROWN, CLAUDE, D.S.O.=, Capt., 2nd Battn. 5th
Northumberland Fusiliers (T.F.), 5th _s._ of the late William
Wreford-Brown, by his wife, Clara Jane (5, Litfield Place, Clifton,
Bristol), dau. of Henry Clark, M.D.; _b._ Clifton, 17 Feb.
1876: educ. Waynflete, Durdham Downs; Wells House, Malvern Wells;
and Charterhouse. After serving in the Royal Warwickshire Militia,
he obtained his commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 1st Battn. of the
“Fighting Fifth,” 15 May, 1897, being promoted Lieut. 24 Nov. 1899,
and Capt. 15 April, 1901. In 1898 he took part in the Soudan Campaign
under Lord Kitchener, being present at the Battle of Omdurman and the
capture of Khartoum (Queen’s medal and Egyptian medal with clasp).
He was employed in the occupation of Crete in 1898, and then, under
Lord Methuen, served throughout the South African War, 1899–1902.
He took part in the advance on Kimberley, including the actions at
Belmont, Enslin, Modder River and Magersfontein. Afterwards he took
part in the operations in the Orange Free State (March-May, 1900) and
in the Transvaal (July-Nov. 1900), including actions at Venterskroom
and Rhenoster River. Twice mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette,
9 July and 10 Sept. 1901], he received the D.S.O. for his services
at Lichtenburg and the Queen’s medal with four clasps and the King’s
medal with two clasps. He was selected to represent his regt. at the
Coronation of King Edward VII. In April, 1908, he was on the North-West
Frontier of India, and while serving in the Mohmand Campaign was
seriously wounded. On 4 Sept. 1912. he was appointed an instructor at
the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, which post he filled until 17
Feb. 1915, when he joined the 2nd Battn. of his regt., then in France.
Capt. Wreford-Brown was killed on the Menin Road, south of Ypres, 200
yards east of Wieltje Farm, north of Hooge, on Whit Monday, 24 May,
1915; unm. His regt. had been practically wiped out on the 13th, and
when he heard of this he insisted on leaving Boulogne, where he was in
hospital, and going back to reform the regt. He arrived at headquarters
west of Ypres, Friday, 21 May, and there found 85 worn-out men of his
battn., and about 450 of the 5th Fusiliers and Durham L.I., and 15
officers, a new draft which had just arrived, all from the same depôt.
These he formed into a battn., and on Sunday, 23 May, was ordered to
join the Brigade--only two clear days to form a new regt.! They marched
between 15 and 29 miles on a sweltering hot day, losing several men
on the way under shell fire. They arrived at Menin Road on Monday
(Empire Day) the 24th; and were ordered out into support at 6 a.m.
Wreford-Brown was commanding. At about 1 p.m. he received orders to
advance to a certain point and attack a position which was allotted to
him. The battn. shortly after leaving its support position came under
heavy fire, and for a distance of two and a-half miles across country
of open fields of buttercups, was continually under high explosive fire
and shrapnel, machine and rifle fire. The regt. was formed up for the
attack on the ridge which they took, but with very heavy casualties.
Ten of the officers were wounded in this, leaving Wreford-Brown and
two lieutenants. These and the remaining men dug themselves in, and
on getting to the ridge they found the Germans very strong in a farm
called Wieltje: it looked as if the Germans were on three sides of
them. The regt. on the right could not be found, and two companies of
the 5th were taking on three miles of Germans. At 7 p.m. he sent word
as to his position and the heavy casualties. The answer came back: “You
must try and take it and hold it at all costs.” One of the captains
in the firing line who was wounded and lying in a ditch reports that
Wreford-Brown told him to go back to hospital, and congratulated him
on getting back to England wounded, and said: “Good-bye, old fellow,
I shall not see you again. I am ordered to attack the place, it is
hopeless, but I shall lead my men to it”; and with that he turned to
his men and called for a rifle and bayonet and said: “Now we will make
the final charge of the Mohicans,” which he did, leading the men. The
Germans had 20 to 25 machine guns concentrated on them: Wreford-Brown
fell 10 yards from the German trench mortally wounded. The remaining
Lieut. reformed for a second attack and got wounded; the remaining few
retired back to the trench behind the hedge, which they had dug after
gaining the ridge. Only one officer got back safely, and he was with
the machine gun a long way behind, which did not come into action. The
regt. on the right had been delayed and came up afterwards. In the
opinion of all he was shot several times and was certainly killed.
Several attempts were made to recover his body, but it lay between
two trenches of the Germans, and it was impossible owing to their
withering fire. The Commander-in-Chief came round himself and thanked
the survivors for their bravery. His brother officers bore general
testimony to his capability and great courage. His brother, Capt. O. E.
Wreford-Brown, died 7 July, 1916, of wounds received in action on the
Somme.
[Illustration: =Claude Wreford-Brown.=]
=BROWNE, ARTHUR GEORGE=, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Notts. and
Derbyshire Regt. (Sherwood Foresters), _s._ of the late John
Barrett Browne, Bandmaster 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers, by his wife,
Isabella Helen, dau. of the late Hon. Capt. A. J. White, Indian A.C.
Dept.; _b._ Mount Abu, India, 2 Sept. 1889; educ. Laurence
Military Asylum, Sanawar, India; joined the Army 2nd Sept. 1903,
at the age of 14, and served in the band of the 1st Battn. of the
Gloucestershire Regt. for eight years, when he became an N.C.O., and
joined the ranks, later becoming Sergt. He received his commission for
“services in the field,” 1 Oct. 1914, and was transferred to the Notts.
and Derbyshire Regt. He was killed in action near Armentières, 20 Oct.
1914; _unm._
[Illustration: =Arthur George Browne.=]
=BROWNE, GORDON STEWART=, Capt. and Adjutant, 1st Battn. Wiltshire
Regt., 4th _s._ of Henry John Browne, of Grosvenor House,
Faversham and Chatham, Merchant, by his wife, Emily Martha, dau. of
George William Gill, of Rochester; _b._ Chatham, 15 May, 1890;
educ. Haileybury and Sandhurst; gazetted to the Wiltshire Regt. 18
Sept. 1909; promoted Lieut. 26 Jan. 1911, and Capt. 25 Oct. 1914. He
went to France with the Expeditionary Force, and was wounded at Caudry
on the fourth day of the retreat from Mons, but recovered and returned
to the Front. On 17 Nov. he was badly wounded during the fighting at
Hooge and died at the Allied Forces Base Hospital, Boulogne, 27 Nov.
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