BROWN, Frederick
No. 13952, Private, Frederick George BROWN
Aged 38
no medals
8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Died of Illness on Tuesday 8th June, 1915 in Colchester
|
Born Q2-1877,[Newmarket 3b:573] in Snailwell, Cambs, the son of Thomas and Mary BROWN (née NIGHTINGALE), of Fordham Road, Exning. 1881 census...at Fordham Road, Exning were Frederick George [4]...his father Thomas [41] an agricultural labourer, born Snailwell...his mother Mary [41] born Coton....his sister Ellen F. [10], born Exning...brother Thomas C [6], born Snailwell...sister Maud M [5], born Snailwell. 1891 census...still at Fordham Road, Exning are Frederick, now an agricultural labourer, his parents, brother Thomas, sister Maud and brother Albert [8] born Exning. 1901 census...at 3 York Cottages, Exning were Frederick now a drainage navvy, his father was now horse keeper on a farm, his mother and sister Maud, who were laundresses,and brother Albert who was a carter on a farm 1911 census...still at York Cottages were Fredrick George (now a domestic gardener), his father ( now a cow man) and mother and brother Albert (now a horse keeper) The 1891 census has his age as 4, but the other census have his year of birth between 1877 and 1882. Confusingly, most of the family became several years younger in the 1911 census and the marriage was shortened by 10 years. He enlisted in Newmarket and was a younger brother of Thomas BROWN As he never entered a war zone he was not eligible for any medals Frederick's entry in "Our Exning Heroes" reads as follows: Brown, F. 3rd Suffolks Frederick Brown joined up in September, 1914, and was sent to Colchester for his training. Owing to illness he was unable to go out to the war, and he died of consumption on June 8th, 1915, at the age of 33 (sic). He was buried at Exning, and given a military funeral, all the arrangements for which were made by Mr. George Townsend. The firing party was under the command of Sergeant Bunker, of the Bedfordshire Regiment, at that time stationed at Newmarket. Before the war he was a gardener and worked for Mr. Cossens of Newmarket. He was a good long-distance runner, and ran at various shows at Exning, Stetchworth and Newmarket, carrying off several prizes. The Newmarket Journal of 19th June 1915 reported:- MILITARY FUNERAL "Pte Frederick George Brown, of the 8th Suffolk Regiment, died in hospital at Colchester on the 9th (sic) instant, after an illness which had lasted some little time.Private Brown, who was the son of Mr. Thomas Brown of York Terrace, Exning, was, previous to the war,in the employ of Mr. Philip Cosens, at Warren Lodge, Newmarket, as an under-gardener. A brother, Thomas Brown, who had previously been in the Army and re-enlisted at the outbreak of the war, has been serving at the Front and was recently reported "missing". The deceased was interred at Exning on Monday afternoon with all honours due to a soldier who has died while serving his King and Country. The cortege was headed by a firing party (13 in number) of the 2/5 Bedford Regiment, under Sergt. Major Bunker, marching slowly with arms reversed. Next came the band of the Northampton's under Band Sergt.Whitsey and Sergt.Drummer Allen. The drums were draped in black. The coffin, covered with the Union Jack, and with beautiful floral tributes, was in an open hearse....." Brother Thomas, mentioned above, was later reported as dying exactly one month earlier than Frederick. |
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details