Alexander Brown

Thank you to Bruce Kettles for providing the service file

 

Dec 1, 1893

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland to Alexander and Margaret Brown

 

Nov 9, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion at Kingston, Ontario 

Ø      Number 59104 (temporary number 152)

Ø      Next of kin given as Alexander Brown, father, of 41 Carnegie St, Edinburgh, Scotland

Ø      Previous occupation given as Quarryman

Ø      Previous military experience given as 3 years in the Gordon Highlanders

Ø      Religion given as Presbyterian

Ø      Assigned to “B” Company

o       This was later reorganized into “A” Company

o       He is shown in the “A” Company Roll as being a Storeman

 

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama at Montreal, Quebec

 

May 15, 1915

Disembarked at Devonport, England and proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent

 

Jun 6, 1915

Reported to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

 

Jun 10, 1915

Reported for duty from being AWL

 

Jun 11, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days detention and forfeited 5 days pay for being AWL

 

Aug 16, 1915

Forfeited 1 day’s pay for absence

 

Aug 28, 1915

Awarded 5 days detention for insubordination

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St Seiriol at Folkestone

 

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked at Boulogne, France and proceeded to St Omer

 

Oct 1, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days Field Punishment No. 2 for disorderly conduct at Dranoutre

 

Oct 15, 1915

Sentenced to 3 days Field Punishment No. 2 for insolence to an NCO at La Clytte

 

May 22, 1916

Granted 9 days leave

 

Jun 16, 1916

Admitted to the No. 1 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a GSW (Gun Shot Wound) to his left forearm.  A doctor’s report records it as a shrapnel wound

Transferred to No 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital at Boulogne

 

 Below is from the 21st Battalion's War Diary

 

Jun 23, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Newhaven

Posted to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) while in hospital

 

Jun 24, 1916

Admitted to the Southwark Military Hospital, East Dulwich Grove, London where surgery was performed to remove pieces of shrapnel

 

Aug 8, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bromley

 

Aug 14, 1916

Transferred to the Military Hospital at Shorncliffe and VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea) is added to the diagnosis

 

Sep 6, 1916

Transferred to the Lyminge Convalescent Hospital at Etchinghill and on admission the diagnosis was changed to read Syphilis and was placed on the Syphilis Register.  He was also noted as having scabies

 

Oct 2, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to the CCAC and continued treatment as an outpatient

 

Oct 7, 1916

Attached to the No. 1 CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot)

 

Oct 24, 1916

Ceased to be On Command and reported to the CCAC at Shoreham

 

Nov 1, 1916

Reported to CCAC at Shoreham

 

Nov 7, 1916

Transferred to the Administrative Staff at CCAC for duty at Shoreham

 

Dec 3, 1916

Reported to CCAC at Shoreham from the Administrative Staff

 

Dec 11, 1916

On Command to the CCAC Depot

 

Mar 10, 1917

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regiment Depot) at Seaford and attached to No. 3 CCD

 

Mar 14, 1917

Admitted to the Court Farm Military Hospital at Warlingham and ceased to be attached to No. 3 CCD with a diagnosis that reads NYD (Not Yet Determined)

 

Jun 1, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bromley and the diagnosis changed to read VDG

 

Jun 30, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom

 

Oct 18, 1917

Admitted to the Manor (County of London) War Hospital at Epsom

 

Nov 13, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Epsom with a sprained left knee suffered while playing a game of football (soccer)

 

Jan 7, 1918

Discharged from hospital

 

Jan 19, 1918

Reported to be AWL at 7.00 pm

 

Jan 22, 1918

Reported for duty at 12.00 noon and forfeited 4 days pay and sentenced to 10 days Field Punishment #2

 

Jan 23, 1918

Transferred to the EORD from the Depot Company

 

Feb 7, 1918

Attached to the Canadian Training School at Bexhill for duty

 

Feb 27, 1918

Sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment #2 for breaking out of barracks on the night of February 27 and not returning until the next morning.  He was also required to forfeit 2 days pay

 

Apr 6, 1918

Granted permission to marry.  There is no indication that he did in fact get married.  There was no record of his next of kin being changed, and on his death there was no Memorial Cross issued to a wife.

 

May 13, 1918

Ceased to be attached to the Training School and returned to the EORD and assigned to the Depot Company

 

May 24, 1918

Ceased to be shown in the Depot Company and shown On Command to the No. 3 CCD

 

Jul 11, 1918

Discharged from the No. 3 CCD and posted to the 6th Reserve Battalion at Seaford

 

Aug 5, 1918

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal to replace 636523 L/Cpl Ashcroft who had been wounded and invalided to England

 

Sep 4, 1918

Transferred to the 21st Battalion

 

Sep 5, 1918

Arrived at the CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) at Etaples, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion

 

Sep 9, 1918

Arrived at the CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) at Aubin St. Vaast

 

Sep 10, 1918

Left the CC Rein C to join the Battalion

 

Sep 11, 1918

Joined the 21st Battalion in Divisional Reserve at the Droucourt Queant Line as part of a draft of 50 reinforcements

 

Oct 12, 1918

Admitted to the No. 9 CFA and transferred the same day to the No. 33 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) with shrapnel wounds to shoulder and back, with the shrapnel from the back penetrating into his chest cavity

 

 Below is from the 21st Battalion's War Diary

 

Oct 17, 1918

Transferred via the No. 35 AT (Ambulance Train)

 

Oct 18, 1918

Admitted to the No. 12 General Hospital at Boulogne

 

Oct 19, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Carisbrook Castle

Posted to the EORD while in hospital

 

Oct 20, 1918

Admitted to the Beaufort War Hospital at Bristol and listed as dangerously ill.  Surgery was performed to remove shrapnel from his chest

 

Oct 26, 1918

L/Cpl Brown died of his wounds while in hospital at Bristol.  His mother, who had been visiting, immediately requested that she be permitted to have his remains interred in a cemetery at home in Scotland.  This permission was granted.


Newington Echo Bank Cemetery
Edinburgh, Scotland

Following the war the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Memorial Cross were sent to his mother, Mrs Margaret Brown, at 41 Carnegie St, Edinburgh, Scotland

The Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his father, Alexander Brown, at the same address

 


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