May 31, 1882                      Born at Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Ontario

Medals photo courtesy of owner

LIEUT. FISHER BROWNLEE who led the 21^st in the bombing exploit, is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Brownlee of McDonald’s Corners, where he was born in 1883.  He attended Perth Collegiate and later took his BA at Queen’s university, Kingston.  He spent six years studying in England and returned to Canada in 1911.  In 1912 he was successful in an examination in Ottawa for Provincial Land Surveyor and followed this calling in Manitoba and British Columbia from 1912 to 1914, when he came east and joined the 42^nd, thereafter taking an officer’s course and becoming attached to the 21^st Battalion at Kingston as lieutenant.   The 21^st was in training there until May of 1915, when the battalion went overseas and was in training at Shorncliffe, Eng. until September of 1915.  A part of the 21^st then went on active service in Belgium and Lieut Brownlee was selected among others as an officer in this detachment.  He has been on active service since that time.

Below is the newspaper article that describes Lieut Brownlee's actions with the 21st Battalion during the battle for the St Eloi Craters April 8/9, 1916

The Perth Courier April 28, 1916

Capture Trench From Enemy 

In addition to the bombing exploit Lieut Fisher Brownlee of McDonald’s Corners, took part in with others in the 21^st Battalion at St. Eloi the week of March 28^th to April 4^th, he was again prominently mentioned in Monday’s official account of the fighting about the salient of St. Eloi, when a party of the 21^st Battalion attacked and won part of a German trench, while the 18^th, 19^th, and 20^th also did great work.  The ground about St. Eloi is sodden with water, and the repairing of trenches is difficult.  But with this damp earth plowed into a veritable porridge and dented with countless pits and holes, with steamy vapors veiling the landscape, and dotting from view all familiar landmarks, movements of the 18^th and 19^th and 21^st Battalions for a night attack on the German line were decidedly hazardous.  On the right bombers under Capt AP Miller and Lieut WF Brownlee of the 21^st, attacked a crater held by the enemy, Lieut GS Bowerbank following them in charge of a working party.  Lieut Brownlee and Scout Belyea went on ahead and having located the enemy, led the bombing squads up to the position.  Bombs were thrown at close range, but the Germans were found in considerable numbers and the decision was taken to return for reinforcements.  Capt Miller having been wounded, Lieut Brownlee was placed in charge of the second party but the advance was delayed owing to the difficulty of movement over the rough ground.  As the objective had not been reached by daybreak, operations were discontinued and the party retired.  After the return of the forces Lieutenants Brownlee and Bowerbank searched for and brought in the wounded men under a violent artillery fire.  On the following night the attack was renewed and was more successful, parties of the 21^st under Lieutenants Brownlee, Marks and Davidson, bombing their way into a German trench, and although severely shelled by enemy guns and trench mortars, blocked the trench at both ends and established bombing posts.  The next night the enemy made two attempts to drive the men of the 21^st from the ground captured, but each time their approach was detected by the sentries and they were driven back by 21^st bombers.

2010

For the 7 nights leading up to November 11, 2010, the names of all Canadian soldiers were projected onto the Belgian War Memorial in Ypres.  At the same time, the same names were being broadcast via the internet to schools across Belgium and Canada.  The image above shows the opening ceremonies at the Belgian War Memorial on November 4, 2010. 

Below on the left is the name of William F Brownlee being projected on that wall.  Below right shows the name being broadcast to the schools.  Each name appeared for 25 seconds and each night 9,700 names were shown.

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