The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private H Brown

Photograph by "Len"

Private Harry BROWN, G/4087, 7th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, died (accidentally drowned), Flanders France, 7th August 1915.

Born Sevenoaks, Kent, son of David & Annie Brown, 3 Wilderness Villas, Camden Road, Sevenoaks, Kent.

1911 Census - Beech Villa, St Johns Road, Sevenoaks, Kent - David Brown, head, age 52, married, master plumber, own account, born Sevenoaks, Kent; Annie Brown, wife, age 48, married 28 years, 14 children, 13 still alive, born Sevenoaks, Kent; Harry Brown, son, age 24, single, painter, journeyman, born Sevenoaks, Kent; William Thomas Brown, son, age 22, single, painter, journeyman, born Sevenoaks, Kent; Lily May Brown, daughter, age 18, single, mothers help, born Sevenoaks, Kent; Alfred Brown, son age 12, school, born Sevenoaks, Kent; Annie Elice Brown, daughter, age 10, born Sevenoaks, Kent; Percy Brown, son, age 9, born Sevenoaks, Kent; Arthur Maurice Brown, son, age 7, born Sevenoaks, Kent; Edith Alice Brown, daughter, age 6, born Sevenoaks, Kent.

Previously served 3 years 4 Royal West Kent Regiment.

Enlisted Tonbridge, Kent, age 27, height 5ft 7¾ inches. Formerly plumber & painter.

Home 9th September 1914 to 25th July 1915; BEF 26th July 1915 to 7th August 1915.

9th September 1914, enlisted; 10th September 1914, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 14th September 1914, posted 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment.

21st September 1914, report from the Recruiting Officer, Sevenoaks to the Office Commanding, Recruiting Depot, Tonbridge - As requested by telephone I yesterday paid a call at 3 Wilderness Villas, Camden Road, Sevenoaks, where I saw Victor Brown and his parents. Victor Brown was home for a few hours from Purfleet. His story was somewhat as follows. On Wednesday 9th September I attended with my brother Harry at Tonbridge Drill Hall. My papers were completed and he thought his were to. We were both outside in the Market Place when a list of names was called. There was a good deal of noise. Harry thought his name had been called also and we marched off together to Tonbridge Station. On arrival at Maidstone Station it was found that our party of about 20 were one ticket short. I believe the Sergeant in charge paid 1/9 but my brother Harrys name was not called and he was told it was not on the list. His name was thereupon added to the list and 1/9 was ......... him also. The money was used principally to get our food. We remained at Maidstone until Friday 11th then we all proceeded to Purfleet since which date Harry and I have both formed part of A Company, 7th Battalion R W K Regiment. My parents telegraphed on Friday night and my brother Harry being on sentry duty I replied that we were both alright. First saw my brother at 4.20pm yesterday the 19th inst. He was then at Purfleet Camp.

26th July 1915, posted BEF.

18th July 1919, Statement of Relatives - Father, deceased; Mother, Mrs Annie Brown, 3 Wilderness Villas, Camden Road, Sevenoaks, Kent; Brothers - Bert Brown, age 37, Camden Road, Sevenoaks, Kent ; William Thomas Brown, age 28, Bradbourne Road, Sevenoaks, Kent; Frank Brown, age 27, 4 Newbury Road, Bromley; Victor Brown, age 24, 4 Newbury Road, Bromley; Alfred Brown, age 21, 3 Wilderness Villas, Camden Road, Sevenoaks, Kent; Percy Brown, age 17, 3 Wilderness Villas, Camden Road, Sevenoaks, Kent; Maurice Brown, age 16, 3 Wilderness Villas, Camden Road, Sevenoaks, Kent; Sisters - Elizabeth Ann Walters?, age 35, Australia; Daisy Brown, age 29, Derwen, Eardley Road, Sevenoaks, Kent; Lily Brown, age 26, Egdean?, Dartford Road, Sevenoaks, Kent; Annie Brown, age 18, Wilderness Villa, Sevenoaks; Edith Brown, age 14, Wilderness Villa, Sevenoaks.

Buried at Corbie Communal Cemetery, Plot1, Row A, Grave 11, Somme, France. Commemorated at Sevenoaks War Memorial.

This page was last updated on 17-Jun-2024.