Name
William Brown
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/08/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
25287
East Surrey Regiment
12th Bn., attached to Trench Mortar Battery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY
XX. J. 21A
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
AT REST SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS FELL AT HIS COUNTRY'S CALL
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
William was youngest son of John and Clara Brown (née Izzard) born circa 1894 in Hitchin. 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).
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.
William married Elizabeth Minnis on the 25th August 1913. She had been living in the family home in 1 Lyles Row, Telegraph Terrace, Queens St, Hitchin in 1911 with her son William Arthur Minnis
In William’s pension records 3 children are recorded, William Arthur Minnis (b 1908), Violet Rose (b 1913) and Herbert (b 1915).
Prior to joining the army, he was employed by Hitchin Urban District Council.
He was officially recorded as born in Hitchin and enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
At first he was given the Regimental Number 23889 and posted to the Middlesex Regiment. Later he was transferred to the 12th Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment with the Number 25287. This Battalion was part of the 122nd Brigade of the 41st Division, XIX Corps in the 2nd Army. He was posted to France in September 1917 and was killed by shellfire in the Ypres Salient whilst serving with a Trench Mortar Battery.
He was buried in Plot 20, Row J, Grave 21A in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery near Poperinghe in Belgium. The cemetery contains memorials to over 7,000 soldiers from Britain and several thousand others from the Commonwealth and was used by a number of Casualty Clearing Stations in the area.
Additional Information
On the Hitchin War Memorial, he is referred to as ‘Wm Brown’. His brother Arthur was killed in action on the 29th May 1915. Another brother also served.
His brother was William Brown, killed in action on the 4th August 1918.
His widow was Mrs Elizabeth Brown, recorded at 1 Chapman’s Yard, Hitchin, after William’s death and she was awarded an £8 grant 28 January 1919 and a pension 20s 7d from 24 February 1919. Later her address was amended to Queen Street, Hitchin.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
