George Arthur Brown, MM
 

Jul 15, 1894

Born at Frankford Ontario 

In the file, there is one mention of his middle name being Allen, but most documents show Arthur as being the proper middle name

 

Aug 21, 1915

Shown on pay sheet for the 40th Northumberland Regiment at Cobourg Ontario

 

Aug 23, 1915

Attested into the 77th Battalion at Cobourg Ontario 

Ø      Number 144904

Ø      Next of kin given as Julia Brown (mother) of Colborne Ontario

o       The 1901 census shows her first name as Julia, while the 1911 census shows the name as Julie

Ø      Previous occupation given as Farmer

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Methodist

Ø      Assigned to the 1st Draft

 

Oct 23, 1915

Embarked the SS California at Quebec City, Quebec

 

 

Oct 31, 1915

Disembarked at Plymouth England and proceeded to the Shorncliffe Camp 

TOS (Taken On Strength) the 12th Reserve Battalion

 

Nov 30, 1915

Forfeits 2 days pay for being AWL (Absent Without Leave)

 

Dec 10, 1915

Admitted to Moore Barracks Hospital with symptoms of Jaundice while suffering from a cold. 

 

Dec 17, 1915

Transferred to Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Monks Horton 

Treated and discharged same day

 

Mar 15, 1916

Proceeded to France

 

Mar 16, 1916

Arrived at CBD (Canadian Base Depot) at Havre France and TOS the 21st Battalion

 

Mar 18, 1916

Left to join unit

 

Mar 21, 1916

Joined the 21st Battalion in the field 

On this date the 21st Battalion was relieved from the front line N & O Trenches and proceeded to Brigade Reserve at Ridgewood where he would have joined them, and assigned to "B" Company.

 

May 5, 1916

Admitted to No 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with shrapnel wounds to face, cheek and nose and transferred same day to No 17 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) 

Later that day was transferred via No 23 AT (Ambulance Transport)

 

May 6, 1916

Admitted to No 23 General Hospital

 

May 7, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Dieppe

 

TOS CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) while in hospital  

Admitted to Metropolitan Military Hospital, Kingsland Ave, London

 

May 24, 1916

Transferred to Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bromely

 

Jun 6, 1916

Discharged from hospital

 

Jun 7, 1916

TOS 39th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling Camp

 

Jul 17, 1916

Proceeded to France

 

Jul 18, 1916

Arrived at CBD and TOS 21st Battalion

 

Aug 5, 1916

Left for the 2nd Entrenching Battalion

 

Aug 8, 1916

Joined the 2nd Entrenching Battalion in the field

 

Aug 10, 1916

Left 2nd Entrenching Battalion to join unit

 

Aug 11, 1916

Joined the 21st Battalion in the field 

The Battalion was in the H & O Trenches in the Ridgewood sector

 

Sep 16, 1916

Reported sick – severe Erythema in legs (painful skin rash) due to Pezititis 

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St Patrick

 

Posted to CCAC while in hospital

 

Sep 17, 1916

Admitted to No 3 Northern General Hospital at Sheffield

 

Sep 28, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Red Cross Convalescent Hospital at Bushey Park, Teddington

 

Sep 30, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom

 

Oct 16, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to CCAC at Folkestone

 

Nov 1, 1916

Posted to No 1 CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) for duty at St Leonard’s

 

Dec 30, 1916

Returned to and TOS CCAC at Hastings

 

Jan 24, 1917

TOS 6th Reserve Battalion at East Sandling Camp

 

Mar 6, 1917

Posted to 21st Battalion and arrived at CBD at Havre and TOS the 21st Battalion

 

Mar 31, 1917

Left CBD for the 2nd Entrenching Battalion

 

Apr 2, 1917

Joined the 2nd Entrenching Battalion in the field

 

Apr 4, 1917

Joined the 21st Battalion in the field 

The Battalion was in the final stages of training for the attack at Vimy Ridge

 

Apr 9, 1917

Appointed to rank of Acting Lance Cpl without pay to replace F Shipley 141775, who was killed in action during the fighting at Vimy Ridge

 

Jun 3, 1917

Promoted to rank of Cpl

 

Nov 2, 1917           Awarded the Military Medal per the London Gazette #30364

 

The citation reads

August 15th-18th 1917.  For conspicuous bravery and coolness.  During an impending counter attack this man ran through the enemy's barrage to warn his comrades in the front line.  His action was undoubtedly the means of attack being unsuccessful and prevented casualties.  His conduct throughout was excellent

AFW 3121   28-8-17  

Below is from the Battalion’s War Diary

 

 

Dec 20, 1917

Granted 14 days leave

 

Jan 8, 1918

At duty from leave

 

May 13, 1918

Wounded in back and buttock by shrapnel shell and admitted to No 6 CFA then transferred same day to No 29 CCS.  Later that day was transferred via No 29 AT (Ambulance Transport) and admitted to the 2nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport

 

May 29, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Grantully Castle

 

Posted to EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) while in hospital

 

May 30, 1918

Admitted to Alexandra Hospital at Cosham Hants

 

Aug 14, 1918

Transferred to Princess Patricia Canadian Red Cross Hospital at Bexhill

 

Nov 12, 1918

Discharged from hospital and placed On Command to CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) at Buxton

 

Dec 26, 1918

Reported to be AWL

 

Dec 27, 1918

Reported for duty at 19:45 hrs 

Severely Reprimanded and ordered to forfeit 2 days pay for being AWL

 

Jan 24, 1919

Embarked the SS Grampian at Liverpool

 

 

Feb 2, 1919

Disembarked at Saint John New Brunswick and proceeded by train to Kingston Ontario

 

Feb 4, 1919

TOS the Casualty Company at MD #3, Kingston Ontario

 

Feb 5, 1919

Granted leave with subsistence until February 18, 1919

 

Feb 19, 1919

Medical Board at Barriefield (Kingston) notes: 

Ø      Man complains of upper back pain in area of his shrapnel wound

Ø      Stated that “he received shrapnel wound back on May 13, 1918, some shrapnel hit him on helmet, smashing it and driving some of the helmet into his back.”

Ø      Has difficulty raising his arms because the scar tissue has adhered to the muscles

Ø      Placed in Category C3 (fit for Home Service only)

 

Feb 22, 1919

Discharged from the CEF at Kingston Ontario 

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 10302

Ø      War Service Badge Class “B” issued number 55325

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge – Colborne Ontario

 

Jun 2, 1921

British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to Box 236 Colborne Ontario

 

Below is from the Cobourg World newspaper in which a letter of his is printed.  If you check the date on for the paper and wording of the letter, you get the impression he had been wounded, but in fact, he was in England on leave


Return to Tribute list

Home

Contact