BROWN, George Walter


No.240756, Private, George Walter BROWN
Aged 21


5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
formerly 2797, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Friday, 2nd November 1917


George Walter Brown was born in Stoke by Clare on 6th July 1896 (school admission register, when living in Mill Lane) [Bury St Edmunds Q2-1896 4A:2673), baptised in St John the Baptist, Stoke by Clare on 23rd August 1896, son of Walter and Fanny BROWN (née TURNER).


1901 census...Aged 5, he was at Ashen Lane, Stoke by Clare with his father Walter BROWN [41] farm labourer; his mother Fanny [30]; sisters Edith [9] and Ethel [2] and brother Bertie [7].All were born in Stoke by Clare.

1911 census...Aged 14, a farm labourer, he was at Mill Lane, Stoke by Clare with his parents; brothers Bertie (farm labourer), and James Herbert [3 months]; sisters Ethel Annie, Maude [9], Elizabeth [6] and Dorothy Minnie [3]. The new siblings also born in Stoke by Clare.

The pension card has his father at Lower Green, Stoke by Clare.


George enlisted in Bury St Edmunds in Oct/Nov 1914, born our by his war gratuity
The 1st/5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment were involved in the 3rd battle for Gaza. Zero for the attack was 3 am on 2nd November 1917. The objective for the Suffolks was a 6,000 yards front from Umbrella Hill to the sea at Sheikh Hassan, Sheikh Hassan being 3,000 yards from their start point. The first line trenches at El Arish Redoubt were soon cleared, then the second and third lines. As their flank was then exposed they withdrew to the second line. By the morning of the 7th the Turks had all gone but at the cost to the Suffolks of 150 casualties.

CWGC have 34 killed on the 2nd, all bar 5 buried in Gaza War Cemetery.



photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



George Brown is buried in Gaza War Cemetery, grave 8:G:13

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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