William Foster Brown

Thank you to Bruce Kettles for providing the service file

 

Jan 31, 1896

Born to James William and Eliza Jane (nee Proctor) Brown in Saint John, New Brunswick

 

Jun 3, 1915

Attested into the 55th Battalion at Sussex, New Brunswick

Ø      Number 444755

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs James Brown, mother, of 5 Sherriff St., Saint John, New Brunswick

Ø      Previous occupation given as Waiter

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Church of England

Ø      Assigned to “D” Company

 

Jun 15, 1915

The Battalion moved to Valcartier, Quebec for training

 

Sep 25, 1915

Sentenced to 7 days detention (the offence is not recorded in the file).  Prior to beginning his sentence, he was admitted to the Valcartier Hospital diagnosed with influenza

 

Sep 27, 1915

Discharged from hospital to detention

 

Oct 30, 1915

Embarked the RMS Corsican at Montreal, Quebec

 

Nov 9, 1915

Disembarked at Devonport, England and proceeded to Bramshott

 

Apr 23, 1916

Transferred to the 21st Battalion

 

Apr 24, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) at the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion

 

May 13, 1916

Left the CBD to join the Battalion

 

May 15, 1916

Joined the 21st Battalion in the T & R front line trenches

 

Jul 21, 1916

Attached to the wood cutting party for duty

 

Aug 28, 1916

Ceased to be attached to the wood cutting party and attached to the 4th Field Company of the Canadian Engineers for duty with the carrying party

 

Sep 3, 1916

Admitted to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin) which is a fever without a known cause

 

Sep 4, 1916

Transferred to the No. 10 Stationary Hospital at St. Omer diagnosed with influenza

 

Sep 12, 1916

Ceased to be attached to the 4th Field Company, Canadian Engineers

 

Sep 15, 1916

Transferred to the No. 2 Australian General Hospital

 

Sep 16, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. David

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

Admitted to the Bethnal Green Military Hospital, Cambridge Heath, London

 

Sep 29, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bromley, Kent

 

Oct 2, 1916

Transferred to the CCH (Canadian Convalescent Hospital) at Woodcote Park, Epsom

 

Nov 1, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to the CCAC

 

Nov 3, 1916

Posted to the CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) at St. Leonard’s for light duties and rehabilitation

 

Jan 9, 1917

Transferred to the 1st CCTB (Canadian Corps Training Battalion) at Hastings for duty

 

Feb 3, 1917

Transferred to the 6th Reserve Battalion at East Sandling

 

Mar 6, 1917

Transferred to the 21st Battalion and proceeded to the CBD at Havre, France and TOS the 21st Battalion

 

Mar 31, 1917

Left the CBD to join the 2nd Entrenching Battalion

 

Apr 2, 1917

Joined the 2nd Entrenching Battalion at Hersin as part of a draft of 53 reinforcements destined for the 21st Battalion

 

Apr 4, 1917

Joined the 21st Battalion at Bois des Alleux.  The Battalion was in the final stages of their training for the attack on Vimy Ridge

 

May 19, 1917

Attached to the 2nd Division Burying Party

 

Sep 2, 1917

Rejoined the Battalion from the burial party

 

Sep 22, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

 

Oct 3, 1917

Rejoined the Battalion from leave

 

Nov 11, 1917

Private Brown was killed by an enemy artillery shell at Passchendaele while trying to save a comrade

 

Nov 13, 1917

He was buried by the burial party in the Levi Cottage Cemetery, Zonnebeke, Belgium.  In 1921 his remains were exhumed and reburied in the Tyne Cot Cemetery.




Tyne Cot Cemetery
Ypres, Belgium

Following the war the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his mother, Mrs J. Brown, at 87 High St., Saint John, New Brunswick.

 


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