Horace Brown, MM

 

Jun 30, 1885

Born at Stafford England

 

Jun 28, 1906

Listed on the 1906 Census as residing in Caron Saskatchewan as a Hired Man 

On that form he stated that he emigrated to Canada in 1896

 

Nov 6, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion at Kingston Ontario 

Ø      Number 59107 (temporary number 723)

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs Joseph Flitcroft of 89 Centre St, Ottawa Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as laborer

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Wesleyan

Ø      Assigned to “G” Company

o       This was later reorganized into “D” Company

 

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama at Montreal Quebec

  

 

May 15, 1915

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

 

Jun 13, 1915

Reported to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

 

Jun 14, 1915

Reported for duty from being AWL 

Forfeits 2 days pay for being AWL

 

Sep 1, 1915

Appointed to appointed to rank of Lance Cpl with pay to replace 59825 L/Cpl JW Reed

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St Seiriol at Folkestone

 

 

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked at Boulogne France and proceeded to St Omer

 

Dec 12, 1915

Admitted to No 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) diagnosed with Eczema

 

Dec 15, 1915

Discharged to duty

 

Jan 12, 1916

Wounded in action near St Eloi and sent to Canadian Hospital in Bailleul with shrapnel wounds to his back.

 

Jan 14, 1916

Admitted to No 6 British Red Cross Hospital at Etaples where surgery was performed to remove shrapnel

 

Jan 24, 1916

Invalided to England 

Admitted to Bevan Military Hospital at Sandgate 

Posted to the 39th Reserve Battalion while in hospital

 

Feb 7, 1916

Transferred to Biddenden Hospital

 

Feb 15, 1916

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

 

Feb 24, 1916

Transferred to Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Monks Horton

 

Feb 29, 1916

Discharged from hospital and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 39th Reserve Battalion

 

Jun 28, 1916

Transferred to 21st Battalion

 

Jun 29, 1916

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

 

Jul 30, 1916

Left to join unit

 

Aug 2, 1916

Joined the 21st Battalion in the field

 

Sep 16, 1916

Admitted to No 10 General Hospital at Rouen with wounds to his neck

 

Sep 23, 1916

Transferred to No 2 Convalescent Depot

 

Sep 24, 1916

Promoted to rank of Cpl to replace Cpl J Dion, 59264, who had been wounded

 

Sep 25, 1916

Discharged to the Base Details at Harfleur France

 

Oct 1, 1916

Left Convalescent Depot for the 2nd Entrenching Battalion

 

Oct 4, 1916

Joined the 2nd Entrenching Battalion in France

 

Oct 6, 1916

Joined the 21st Battalion in the field

 

Nov 10, 1916

Promoted to rank of Sgt to replace Sgt Bell, 59054, who had proceeded to England 

Noted as being in No 13 Platoon, “C” Company

 

May 9, 1917

Received compound fracture of both bones in left forearm from a bullet wound and admitted to No 13 General Hospital

 

May 12, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Pieter de Coninck

  

 

May 13, 1917

Admitted to Horton City of London War Hospital at Epsom 

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

 

Jul 9, 1917

Awarded the Military Medal per London Gazette #30172

  

Citation reads

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action.  During the attack on enemy's line when all his Officers were casualties he rallied his men and on his own initiative passed through a heavy barrage and gained the objective.  His courage through the whole engagement was a splendid example to his men.

AFW 3121  15-4-17

 

Oct 12, 1917

Transferred to Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom

 

Nov 9, 1917

Discharged from the Convalescent Hospital and placed On Command to No 3 CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) at Seaford

 

Nov 16, 1917

Granted permission to marry

 

Nov 19, 1917

Reported to be AWL at 7 pm

 

Nov 20, 1917

Reported for duty from being AWL at 6.45 pm

 

Nov 21, 1917

Received a severe reprimand and forfeited 2 days pay for being AWL

 

Feb 22, 1918

Next of kin changed to read Mrs Florence Eveline Brown (wife) of 130 Folly Lane, Swinton, North Manchester, England

 

Sep 6, 1918

Ceases to be On Command and is posted to No 3 CCD

 

Jan 27, 1919

Authorized to wear the ribbon for the 1914-15 Star

 

Apr 18, 1919

SOS to EORD

 

May 22, 1919

Posted to EORD and detailed to the Depot Coy, then placed On Command to No 1 CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) at Buxton pending return to Canada

 

Jul 28, 1919

Embarked the RMS Adriatic at Liverpool

  

 

Aug 4, 1919

Disembarked at Halifax Nova Scotia

 

Aug 12, 1919

Discharged from the CEF at Halifax Nova Scotia 

Ø      Discharged as Medically Unfit

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 396528

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge – GPO Caron Saskatchewan

Ø      Noted as having 3 dependents

 

Apr 20, 1921

On this date, and on a subsequent date, the British War Medal and Victory Medal were sent to the GPO (General Post Office), Caron Saskatchewan

 

Aug 8, 1953

Deceased

 

Horace Brown maintained a personal diary that is held at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa Ontario.  I was granted permission to transcribe and reproduce that diary here as a tribute to his memory.   I have it posted in 3 sections, begining in 1915 followed by 1916 and 1917

1915  1916 1917


Return to Tribute list

Home

Contact