Name
Frederick James Brown
1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WATFORD CEMETERY
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Pre War
Wartime Service
Biography
Frederick Brown was one of four brothers from Bedmond that served in the Great War. He was born on 21 March 1890 and baptised on 13 July 1890 at St Lawrence Church, Leverstock Green. when the family was living at Westfield Row, Leverstock Green. His parents, James and Mary Brown, had eleven children in total – six sons and five daughters. In 1891 James worked as an Agricultural Labourer, but by the time of the 1901 Census he was employed as a Horse Man on a Farm, and the family continued to live at Bedmond. By the time of the 1911 Census, James had died and Frederick was living with his widowed mother at Bell Field, Bedmond, Abbots Langley, Herts, along with his brother Arthur and sister. He was then working as a carman for a gravel company.
Frederick married Elizabeth Kate Soulesbury Brown at Cecil Lodge in Abbots Langley on 4th August 1913. The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine reported that on 30th August 1914, a daughter had been born to Frederick and Elizabeth Brown, at Abbots Langley.
In the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour Frederick Brown was listed for the first time in May 1915 and was recorded serving with the Army Service Corps (ASC). His Service Record confirmed that Frederick attested at Watford on 19th April 1915 when he was working as a farm labourer and living at Cecil Lodge, Abbots Langley, Herts. He was posted as a Driver to the 138th Company of the Army Service Corps on 10th May (reg. no. T4/ 084362). However, he was discharged on medical grounds on 12th June 1915 "not likely to become an efficient soldier" on medical grounds, having been diagnosed with “a disordered action of the heart”.
In September 1915 he was listed with the Royal Bucks Hussars, a unit that was serving at Gallipoli at the time. So it would appear that Frederick had re-enlisted.
In the September 1917 Parish Magazine, it was reported that Frederick had been wounded. He was still shown serving with the Royal Bucks Hussars in the Middle East. Around that time the Hussars had been in action at the Battle of Gaza. Frederick must have recovered from his wounds as he was listed with the Northumberland Hussars in the January 1918 Magazine, and probably transferred to this unit at some time in 1917. The Northumberland Hussars had undergone infantry training at Etaples, France from 28th July 1917, as the British Army converted cavalry men to infantry roles to fill the gaps in units serving on the Western Front. The Hussars were amalgamated with the 9th Northumberland Battalion, to bring the unit up to strength. Frederick was recorded serving with the Northumberland Hussars through to the end of the War.
Two of Frederick’s brothers died during the War, and a third in January 1919, as a result of being gassed.
He survived the war and died in 1987 age of 97 and is buried in North Watford Cemetery, Herts
Additional Information
Brother George served with the Labour Corps and was killed in action in February 1918. Brother Arthur served with the Northants Regt and Labour Corps, dying from the effects of gas in January 1919. Brother David served with the Sherwood Foresters and was killed in action in October 1918. Formerly Army Service Corps & Royal Bucks Hussars
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
