Name
Frederick George Brown
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/06/1915
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
1257
Royal Fusiliers *1
8th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
FERME BUTERNE MILITARY CEMETERY, HOUPLINES
Row B, Grave 36.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Frederick was born in Paddington in 1895 the son of Arthur Thomas and Alice Jane (nee Woods) Brown.
His parents married 17 November 1891 at St Jude’s, Kensal Green, London. Arthur died 1897 in the Chelsea, London, district aged 28. Alice remarried 14 February 1903 at All Saints, Croxley Green, Herts, to Jesse WHITE, and died 1938 in the Watford district aged 71; Jesse died 30 May 1965 in Watford aged 92, and was buried 2 June in North Watford Cemetery.
His father died in 1897 age 28 and in 1901 Alice was living Wilbee Terrace, New Road, Croxley Green with her parents James and Annie Woods, her brother Joseph, and her three children Arthur J age 8, Frederick G age 6, and Emily A age 0 - who must have been born outside of wedlock.
Alice married Jesse White on the 14th of February 1903 at All Saint’s, Croxley Green and Frederick attended Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 31 August to 13 October 1903.
On the 1911 Census, the family was living at 5 Cassiobridge Road, Watford. Jesse, Arthur and Frederick all worked at Croxley Mill. a paper maker at Croxley Mill aged 17, he lived in Watford, with his mother, step-father and two siblings.
Frederick later continued to reside in Watford and at his death the CWGC gives his mother’s address as 6 Casio Road, Watford.
Wartime Service
Enlisted in London.
The 8th Battalion was formed at Hounslow on the 21st of August 1914 as part of Kitchener’s New First Army. They landed in France between the 29th of May and the 1st of June 1915 part of 36th Brigade 12th (Eastern) Division. Frederick was killed in action on the 13th of June but the circumstances of his death are unclear as it was not until the 23rd of June that the Division took over a section of the front line.
However, it is believed that he was killed in action at La Epinette.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 31 May 1915.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Frederick’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. He has a listing in that De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour.
*1 More correctly (City of London) Bn. London Regiment (Post Office Rifles).
Acknowledgments
Mike Collins, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
