No.73035, Private, David BROWN
Aged 28
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David Brown was born in Isleham Fen in 1889 (believed to be Newmarket Q1-1899 3B:515) son of Robert and Elizabeth Mary BROWN (née COLLEN).
His father was first married to Sarah STARLING, they had several children before Sarah died in 1884. In 1886 Robert married Elizabeth Mary COLLEN. 1891 census...Aged 2, he was at North Bank of River Lark at Isleham with his father Robert [45] a bargeman, his mother Elizabeth [26]; half brothers Joseph [16] and James [9] and half sisters Sarah Ann [11] and Jessie [7], and sister Florrie [ 3 months]. The whole family were born at Isleham Fen. 1901 census...Aged 12, he was at Fen Bank, Isleham with his half sister Mary and her husband Frederick WILLIAMS. His parents, with Joseph, James and Florence, together with his new sister Dinah [5] and Arthur [2] both born in Isleham, were at Fen Bank, Isleham. 1911 census... Aged 22, a farm labourer, he was at Fen Bank, Isleham with his parents (father now a farm labourer) and brother Arthur and two more siblings, Ada [9] and George [6]. |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds on 15th February 1916. He gave his age as 26 and 4 months, occupation as hay presser. He was 5' 3" (160 cm) tall, weighed 127 lbs (57.8 kg) and chest was 35"-38" (88.9 to 96.5 cm) After training he was first with the 8th Northamptonshires, then with the 1st battalion sent to France on 5th July 1916 and transferred to the Notts & Derby Regiment 11th (Service) Battalion on 12th September 1916. He was taken ill with pneumonia on 3rd February 1917 and taken to No 2 Canadian C.C.S., then to 2 Canadian Stationery Hospital at Outreau (Boulgone) where he died at 11:30 pm on 24th February 1917 from pneumonia. His mother received his personal effects on 21st July 1917 which consisted of 1 disc, 1 photo, 1 postcard and 1 unopened letter. |
photo- Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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