Name
Arthur Brown
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/05/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
13897
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RAILWAY DUGOUTS BURIAL GROUND (TRANSPORT FARM)
I. A. 5.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Arthur was born in Hitchin circa 1891 to parents John and Clara Brown (née Izzard) and was baptised 27 May 1891. His parents married in 1874.
In 1901 they were living at 9 St Andrew’s Place, Hitchin, the family were parents: John (43) and Clara (44), John was a railway foreman for the GNR. The children present were: George (14), Charles (12), Arthur (10), William (7) and Ada (2).
Arthur married Ada and they had 3 children, Cyril Day (b 1907) before the marriage, then Arthur (b 1910) and Dora May (b June 1914).
In 1911 Arthur’s parents were still at the same address, with children William and Ada. They had been married 37 years, had 12 children of whom 4 had died. Arthur was living with his wife (Ada (23) at 7 Gascoignes Yard, Queen Street, Hitchin, and working as a railway labourer. Their children were Cyril (4) and Arthur (1). They were recorded as married 4 years with 3 children, but 1 had died. Dora had yet to be born.
He was officially recorded as living in Hitchin when he enlisted there.
Wartime Service
By September 1914 Arthur was in the 3rd Battalion of the Bedfords, but was later posted to the 1st Battalion with the Regimental Number 13897 and was killed in action in Belgium.
Early in May, the Battalion suffered over one third casualties near Hill 60 and spent the rest of the month at railway embankments near Zillebeke Pond providing large working parties day and night. This was at the close of the Second Battle of Ypres.
He was buried in Plot I, Row A, Grave 5 in the Railway Dugouts Burial Ground in Belgium.
Additional Information
His brother was William Brown, killed in action on the 4th August 1918. Another brother served.
His widow was Mrs Ada Brown, recorded at 7 Gascoyne Yard, Hitchin, after Arthur’s death and she had their children were awarded a pension 20s 6d from 13 December 1915.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
