Name
Edward (alias Edwin) Brown
Circa 1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/10/1918
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
203430
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SELRIDGE BRITISH CEMETERY, MONTAY
II. A. 20.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Diocese - Book of Remembrance, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans, Diocese of St Albans - ROH, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans, Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Edward, who appears to have been known as Edwin (*1), was born about 1898 and the son of Amy Brown. In 1911 they were living in 4 Adam and Eve Alley Yard, Hitchin. Amy was recorded as born on Hoddesdon, a single mother working as a laundress.
She married Joseph L Day in 1913 and became Mrs Day.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War (SDITGW) database records that he was living in Hitchin and enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
Edward enlisted in the Hertfordshire Regiment receiving the Regimental Number 4340 meaning that he enlisted after 13th December 1914 and before 11th January 1915.
He was posted to the 1/4th Battalion West Riding Regiment and then to the 9th Battalion of the West Riding Regiment which was in the 52nd Brigade of the l 7th Division of V Corps in the 3rd Army and was given the Regimental Number 203430. He was killed in action in France.
This was a day of extremely heavy fighting near the River Selle. The 17th Division were on the left and reached the high ground 1,000 yards north east of Neuvilly, but could not get past the line Montay-Neuvilly road. The 9th West Riding's were heavily engaged for the rest of the day.
He was buried in Selridge British Cemetery in Plot 2, Row A, Grave 20, Montay in France.
Additional Information
After his death £23 10s 6d was authorised to go to his mother, Amy, on 14 March 1919. This included a war gratuity of £22.
Edward’s pension records give his mother, Mrs Amy Day as his dependant, living in 46 Tilehouse Street, Hitchin She was awarded 5s a week pension from 6 May 1919.
*1 St Albans Cathedral Diocese records list him as Edwin.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
