No.235023, Private, Arthur John BROWN
Aged 30
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Arthur John was born in 1887 (Risbridge Q3-1887 4A:617), son of John William and Louisa BROWN (née PETERS) at 33 Mill Road, Haverhill.
He was baptised at the Old Independent Church on 27th November 1878. His father was a silk weaver from Stanbourne, Essex and his mother a needlewoman from Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire, married in 1879. 1891 census...Aged 3, he was at 33 Mill Road, Haverhill with his father John BROWN [35] silk weaver, born Stambourne, Essex; his mother Louisa [34] born Whittlesford; sister Winifred Ellen [2 months] born Haverhill; widowed grandmother Sarah PETERS [57] machinist/baster, born Great Shelford and uncle William PETERS [18] silk weaver born Whittlesford. 1901 census...Aged 13, still at school, the family had moved across the road to No 34 Mill Road; his parents; sister Winifred; grandmother Sarah PETERS ( now shirt finisher -at home) and uncle William PETERS. 1911 census...Aged 23 a clerk (at Gurteens) he was at 34 Duddery Road, Haverhill with his parents. He was now the only child, his 2 siblings had died, as had his uncle William (1901) and grandmother (1910) |
Arthur Brown, when in the Suffolk Regiment
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The South West Suffolk Echo of 20th October 1917 reported that:- "Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Brown, of 341 Duddery Road, have been officially notified of the death of their only son, Rifleman Arthur J. Brown, of the King's (Liverpool Regt.) Deceased who was thirty years of age, was well known locally, and his death will be regretted by his many friends. Amongst the local sporting community Rifleman Brown will be remembered as the Hon. Secretary of the Old Independent Institute F.C. during the years that organisation carried all before them in the junior football world. Prior to enlistment in the latter part of 1916 he was employed as a clerk by Messrs. D. Gurteen & Sons. Joining up with the Suffolk's he was in training for eleven weeks before going to France, in the closing days of 1916, where he was transferred to the King's. The following letter from the Lieut. has been received by Mrs. Brown :- "It is my painful duty to notify you that your son, No.235023 Rifleman A.J. Brown, was killed in action with the Battalion on the 20th September. All his comrades and officers miss your son, who was so cheerful and willing to fulfil his duty under all circumstances, and they join with me in expressing deepest sympathy with you and your loss". In response to enquiries for further particulars, the additional details have been received: "He was in the attack with the Battalion on the 20th. September. He was killed instantly by a sniper whilst we were digging in at our final objective. He was buried near by where he fell, which is in front of Ypres". " He enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment in Bury St.Edmunds as reported in the South West Suffolk Echo of 26th September 1914,and was later transferred to the 1st/5th Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment). He died on the same day, in the same battalion and operation as Frederick Beavis. see here The battalion war diary has:- " Vlamertinge - 20th - Z Day. The battalion attacked at 5:40 am, passing through the 7th Kings and taking GREEN LINE, consolidating this position which ran from Hill 37 on the left to ZEVENCOTE on right K - 4 Officers; W Officers 5; other ranks killed 41, d/w 7, m 7, w 114." CWGC figures show 62 dead in total, only five have known graves, the rest are named on the Tyne Cot memorial
and also on the Old Independent Church Memorial. click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
