Name
ALFRED HENRY BROWN
1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/08/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
16273
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KNIGHTSBRIDGE CEMETERY, MESNIL-MARTINSART
C. 25.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Christ Church (formerly Holy Trinity Church) Memorial Waltham Cross
Pre War
Alfred Henry Brown was born in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, in 1894, son of Albert Edward Brown a, Machinist at the Royal Small Arms Factory and Emily Eliza Brown (nee Andrews). One of eleven children.
He was Baptised in the Parish Church, Waltham Cross, Herts, on 4th March 1894.
1901 Census records Alfred aged 7, living with his parents, and four siblings at, 3 Cottage Gardens (North), High Street, Cheshunt, Herts.
1911 Census has Alfred aged 16, working as a General Labourer at a Garden Nursery, living with his parents and eight siblings at, 3 Cottage Gardens, Cheshunt, Herts.
Wartime Service
Alfred enlisted at Cheshunt, Herts, posted to the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 16273.
“The 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment was formed at Bedford in October 1914, as part of Kitchener’s Third Army (K3) coming under the 71st Brigade of the 24th Division”.
The Battalion was mobilized for war in August 1915, while stationed at Blackdown Camp, Surrey. Alfred and his Battalion left Dover for Boulogne, France, arrive on 30th August 1915. Seeing action on the Western Front. He was killed in action on 21st August 1916, and is buried in the CWGC Knightsbridge Cemetery, Mesnil-Martinsart, France.
Extract from the Battalion War Diary.
“21st Aug 1916. Battalion furnished working party under Corps of Signals, strength 10 Officers and 500 O.R. worked from 8am. To 4 pm. Casualties 1 O.R. killed, 1 O.R. wounded” .
Additional Information
His mother Emily received a dependents pension of 5/- a week from 30th July 1917, and his effects of £4-15s-7d, Pay Owing and a War Gratuity of £9. His elder brother Lance Corporal L/14408 Arthur George Brown was killed in action between 10th & 14th March 1915, (recorded as 14th) in France.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
