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Chapter XIII: Part 13

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=BROCKIE, DAVID=, Private, No. 75230, A Coy., 29th (Vancouver) Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, elder _s._ of the late Thomas Brockie, of Hawthornside, Hawick, co. Roxburgh, Farmer, by his wife, Anne Henderson, dau. of the late William Renwick, of Byrecleuch and Chapel Mains, co. Berwick; _b._ Hawthornside afsd., 1 Dec. 1878; educ. Hobkirk Public School, and Teviot Grove Academy, Hawick, and after a business training went to India, where he was for seven years with Whitaway, Laidlaw & Co. After a brief visit home he went to Vancouver about 1911, and after the declaration of war volunteered and joined the 72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada in Oct. 1914. He was transferred to the 29th Battn., came over with the second Contingent, went to France, 17 Sept. 1915, and was mortally wounded on 4 Nov. following, and died two days later in No. 2 Clearing Station at Bailleul. He was buried in the cemetery there; _unm._ For going to his assistance when he fell wounded and carrying him to a place of safety while under heavy fire, L.-Corpl. Alfred J. Hourston was awarded the D.C.M.

=BROCKLEHURST, EDWARD HENRY=, Capt., 6th (Rifle) Battn. The King’s Liverpool Regt. (T.F.), 5th _s._ of the late Henry Brocklehurst, of Sefton Park, Liverpool, by his wife, Ellen, dau. of William Hutchings; _b._ Waterloo, near Liverpool, 15 May, 1878; educ. Harrow, and became a chartered accountant. He joined the volunteers in 1900 and was made Capt. of the 6th Battn. King’s Regt. 22 June, 1910, when he secured the certificate of proficiency qualifying him for higher rank. He was on the Special Reserve of officers, and had been gazetted as regimental instructor of musketry a short time before war broke out. He immediately volunteered for foreign service, and was killed while leading a charge at Hill 60, near Ypres, 5 May, 1915; _unm._

=BROCKLESBY, DENNIS=, Armourer’s Crew, M. 6674, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BROCKWELL, WILLIAM JAMES=, Stoker, Petty Officer, K. 2386, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BRODIE, EWEN JAMES=, 11th of Lethen and Coulmony, co. Nairn, D.L., Capt., 1st Battn. Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, 2nd and only surviving _s._ of the late James Campbell John Brodie, 9th Laird of Lethen and Coulmony, Lord Lieut. of co. Nairn, by his wife Fanny Sophia Constance, dau. of Edmund Thomas Wedgwood Wood, of Henley Hall, co. Salop; _b._ at Lethen, 17 July, 1878; educ. Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge; gazetted as 2nd Lieut. from the Militia to the 2nd Battn. of the Cameron Highlanders, 26 May, 1900, and was promoted Lieut. 22 Jan. 1902, and Capt. 3 May 1911. He served in the Mediterranean, Africa and China, and from 1909 to 1913 was Adjutant to Lovat Scouts (T.F.), when he rejoined the 1st Battn. of the Camerons at Edinburgh Castle. On the outbreak of war, in Aug. 1914., he went to the Front with the Expeditionary Force, took part in the Battle of the Aisne, and all the fighting preliminary to the First Battle of Ypres, and fell in action, in the encounter with the Prussian Guards at Ypres, 11 Nov 1914. At the time of his death he was acting as Adjutant of his battn. and was one of the only three survivors of the officers of the regt. who had left Edinburgh Castle ten weeks before. He was buried near some men of his regt., close to the spot where he fell. He _m._ 4 Jan. 1911, Marion Louisa, eldest dau. of William Stirling, of Fairburn and Monar, co. Ross, and had three children, David James, _b._ 27 Oct. 1911; Peter Ewen, _b._ 6 May, 1914; and Helen Charlotte, _b._ 22 June, 1913.

=BROMLEY, CUTHBERT=, Major and Adjutant, 1st Battn. Lancashire Fusiliers, _s._ of the late Sir John Bromley, C.B., J.P., formerly of the Exchequer and Audit Department, Somerset House, afterwards Accountant General of the Board of Education, by his wife, Marie Louise (Sutton Corner, Seaford, Sussex), dau. of the late Richard Bowman, of Maidenhead; _b._ Earl’s Terrace, London, W., 19 Sept. 1878; educ. St. Paul’s School and received a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the Lancashire Fusiliers from the Militia, 4 May, 1898, and was promoted Lieut. 28 Dec. 1898. In Sept. 1899, he was sent from Aldershot to Malta and received his company, 15 June, 1901. It is interesting to note the fact that when he received his company he was barely twenty-two, and he and a junior Subaltern (Gaspard de Coligny Le Marchant) are said to have been the two youngest captains in the British Army. While in Malta, the South African War broke out, and in order to be fully qualified he and Capt Le Marchant joined the Malta Mounted Infantry, but as his Commanding Officer (Capt. Hamilton) fell ill, he had to remain behind in Malta temporarily to take his place. In 1901–3 Major Bromley was seconded for service with the West African Frontier Force, and took part in the punitive expedition in the Aro country, and had the West African (S. Nigeria) 1901–2 and Aro medals with clasps. While in Southern Nigeria he gained the Royal Humane Society’s Certificate for saving a native’s life from drowning, by holding him up 8½ hours in the water. During 1906–7, he was Superintendent of Gymnasia, Irish Command, but resigned this post to rejoin his own regt. the Lancashire Fusiliers, and in 1909 went with it to India, serving for some time as Transport Officer. He was appointed Adjutant, 4 May, 1914, and took keen interest in the regimental sport and in organising the men’s games. His regt., with others from India, arrived in England 13 Jan. 1915, and started on the Dardanelles Expedition on 15 March, 1915; he was in the 29th Division and his Brigade (the 86th Infantry) was the first to land on W. Beach (Lancashire “Landing”) on that memorable 25 April, their duty being to cover the disembarkation of the rest of the Division. An officer who was there said, “Bromley and Needham were always forward, leading and cheering on; all were good, but then were splendid.” On 28 April, Major Bromley was wounded in the thigh, and when examined by the doctors was found to have been wounded in the back on the day of the landing. After three weeks in hospital, he rejoined his regt. on the Gallipoli Peninsula and was again wounded by shrapnel in the foot on 28 June. An officer wrote: “He was wounded at the beginning of the charge from our trenches. When he was picked up he made the men help him forward to lead the attack.” After six weeks in hospital at Cairo and at Troodos, he started from Alexandria for Cape Hellas on the ill-fated Royal Edward, with a draft of sixty-four men, as senior military officer “Commanding the troops on board.” The ship was torpedoed in the Aegean Sea and sank in about 4½ minutes, on 14 Aug. 1915. Major Bromley had not been well that morning, having a touch of fever and was the last to jump overboard. He was injured in the head by wreckage and rendered partially unconscious, and but for that would undoubtedly have had strength to swim to the Hospital Ship Sudan. His fate was the more tragic as from boyhood he had always been such an expert swimmer, and when at Malta swam five miles, from there to the Island of Gozo. His Commanding Officer wrote: “So passed one of the bravest officers I have known, my friend for years, and one of the most popular men in the regt.” He was mentioned in Gen. Sir Ian Hamilton’s Despatch of 20 May [London Gazette, 5 Aug.], 1915, and had been gazetted temporary Major [London Gazette, 3 Aug. 1915] to rank as from 6 June. He was _unm._

=BROMLEY, HERBERT ASSHETON= (Jett), Lieut., No. 3 Coy., 7th Battn (1st British Columbia Regt.), Canadian Expeditionary Force, yst. _s._ of the late Sir Henry Bromley, 5th Bt., by his wife, Ada, only child of Westley Richards; _b._ Stoke Newark, 16 Oct. 1879; educ. Farnborough and Eton, was Private Secretary to his brother, Sir Robert Bromley, Bt., Administrator of St. Christopher and Nevis (1905–6) and afterwards to the Hon. James Dunsmuir, Lieut.-Gov. of British Columbia; joined the 88th Fusiliers at Victoria, B.C., when that battn. was formed three years ago; on the outbreak of war volunteered for service overseas, was gazetted Lieut. on formation of Canadian Expeditionary Force, 21 Sept. 1911, and was killed in action at the second Battle of Ypres, 24 April, 1915; _unm._ Describing his death, a comrade said: “He was badly wounded in the trenches, but leaped out and led his men in a magnificent charge, calling out ‘we have got to win, follow me.’ He was quite alone away in front of his men and died a glorious death.” His Company Commander, Major R. C. Cooper, wrote to the Editor as follows: “I would, as the late Lieut. H. A. Bromley’s Company Commander, like to express my very high appreciation of him, both as an officer with the welfare of his men at heart, and as a personal friend. Mr. Bromley was invaluable to me in France with his intimate knowledge of the language and customs. His men were devoted to him and missed him greatly when wounded in the head on the 16 March at Fleurbaix. He returned to us on 27 March and remained with the battn. up to ‘Our Day’--doing duty in the trenches from the 14 to the 19 April, two days in billets and then the gas and subsequent heavy fighting. In Victoria, B.C., he was a member of the 88th Victoria Fusiliers, some time as a Company Officer and the remainder as Adjutant. He served with the regt. in the coal strikes at Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, 1913–14. On the outbreak of war he was one of the first officers selected for Active Service, being posted to my company, left for Valcartier, 28 Aug. 1914, and for England, 27 Sept. 1914, arriving at Plymouth, 15 Oct. 1914--four months of rain at Salisbury Plain and then to France. We all mourn ‘Brom.’ as a pal and soldier. His last idea, and his was a forlorn hope, was to charge and scupper some of the Boches before going under himself. His platoon on 21 April lost twenty-one killed, sixteen wounded, three prisoners and eight wounded and prisoners. This record tells of his work.”

=BROOKE, JAMES ANSON OTHO=, =V.C.=, Capt., 2nd Battn. The Gordon Highlanders, eldest _s._ of Capt. Harry Vesey Brooke, of Fairley, Countesswells, co. Aberdeen, J.P., D.L., late 92nd Gordon Highlanders, by his wife, Patricia, only child of James Gregory Moir Byres, of Tonley, co. Aberdeen, and gdson. of the late Sir Arthur Brinsley Brooke, of Colebrooke Park, co. Fermanagh, 2nd Bt., M.P.; _b._ Fairley, Aberdeenshire, 3 Feb. 1884; educ. Wellington and Sandhurst, and received his commission as 2nd Lieut. in the Gordon Highlanders, 11 Oct. 1905, and joined the 1st Battn. at Cork in November. The following year he was promoted Lieut. (5 Aug. 1907) and transferred to the 2nd battn. in India, where he served till 1913. He was present at the Delhi Durbar and as Senior Subaltern he was one of the officers who received new colours from King George, and was awarded the Durbar medal. In 1913, the regt. went to Egypt and were stationed there till the outbreak of war, when (Oct. 1914) they were ordered to the Front. Lieut. Brooke was the Senior Subaltern and acting as assistant Adjutant. The 2nd battn. of the Gordons landed at Zeebrugge and after many days’ severe fighting, the regt. along with the rest of the Division found themselves on 29 Oct. attacked by very superior forces at Gheluvelt. Here it was that Lieut. Brooke was killed, having, as his Col. wrote, by his gallantry “saved the situation.” The Germans having broken through, he changed the formation of the line three times and finally led an assault on, and captured an important trench at a most critical moment. For this he was mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Victoria Cross, the official record stating: “For conspicuous bravery and great ability near Gheluvelt on 29 Oct. in leading two attacks on the German trenches under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire, regaining a lost trench at a very critical moment. He was killed on that day. By his marked coolness and promptitude on this occasion Lieut. Brooke prevented the enemy from breaking through our line at a time when a general counter-attack could not have been organised.” At Sandhurst he was Capt. of the Shooting Eight, was senior Colour-Sergt. of the College, won the Sword of Honour, tied for the Saddle, etc. He was _unm._

=BROOKE, VICTOR REGINALD, C.I.E., D.S.O.=, Major, 9th (Queen’s Royal) Lancers, 5th _s._ of the late Sir Victor Alexander Brooke, of Colebrooke, 3rd Bt. by his wife, Alice Sophia (Villa Ballenia, St. Jean de Luz, B.P., France), 2nd dau. of Sir Alan Edward Bellingham, 3rd Bt.; _b._ 53, Eaton Square, London, 22 Jan. 1873; educ. at Pau, Basses Pyrénées and at Storrington, and obtained his commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 9th Lancers, 12 Dec. 1894, and became Lieu. 29 April, 1896, Capt. 6 May, 1901, Major 7 June, 1905, and temporary Lieut.-Col. 1 June, 1907. He served in the South African War, 1899–1902, where he greatly distinguished himself. He took part in the advance on, and relief of, Kimberley, including the actions at Belmont, Enslin, Modder River and Magersfontein, and in the operations in the Orange Free State from Feb. to May, 1900, including the actions at Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, and Karee Siding, and was A.D.C. to the Lieut.-Gen. commanding the Headquarters staff in South Africa from Nov. 1901 to Sept. 1902. He was wounded in the Transvaal, and was twice mentioned in despatches [16 April, 1901, and 31 May, 1902], and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, the Queen’s medal with four clasps and the King’s medal with two. From 1902 to 1907 he was A.D.C. and then Assistant Mil. Secretary to Lord Kitchener, and was sent by him to Kabul in 1904, and afterwards became Mil. Secretary to the Viceroy of India (Lord Minto), and was made a C.I.E. in 1910. He returned with Lord Minto Dec. 1910, and served with his regt. at Canterbury and Tidworth. On the outbreak of the European War he went to France with the Expeditionary Force and died in hospital at Compiègne of wounds received in action during the retreat from Mons, 29 Aug. 1914; _unm._ The following appreciation by “A Friend” appeared in the Daily Telegraph of 12 Sept. 1914: “It was a fine ending to a fine life, Victor Brooke was known, if only as Military Secretary in India, to thousands; but it was by tens of thousands that he was liked and loved. He was almost the first man wounded in the South African War. The writer picked up the diary of a wounded Boer, in which was set down the enemy’s regret that so good a friend and fighter had been as they thought killed. Upon my conscience, I believe that the Boers who wounded him in 1899 will take an intentional and bitter revenge for his death in 1914, when they came to grips with the Germans in South West Africa. As to the manner of his death and burial, there is something to be recorded. He died on the night of 29 Aug. and he was buried early next morning at Chateau d’Annel, near Compiègne. The house had been turned into a hospital by Mrs. Depew, to whom most men who speak English will be glad to pay in full a willing debt of gratitude whenever and wherever the claim is presented. They left at eleven on the same day. I now quote the words of others: ‘The estate carpenter made his coffin, and one of the old men on the estate dug his grave. After the burial the old man said to Mrs. Depew, “Regardez, Madame.” He pointed out a gravestone to the north of the grave, which had the inscription underneath the date, 1870, “Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur.” It belonged to one of the family which owned Chateau d’Annel in those days, all of whom were buried there. Beside them the old grave-digger thought it right to lay Victor Brook--Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur indeed.”

=BROOKE, VIVIAN CYRIL=, Private, No. 98, A Coy., 12th Battn., 3rd Infantry Brigade, Australian Imperial Force, 2nd _s._ of the late Robert Parkinson Brooke, of Tasmania, formerly of India, Indigo Planter, by his wife, Amy (Rialannah, Swanston Street, New Town, Hobart, Tasmania), _b._ New Town, Tasmania, 19 June, 1887; educ. Queen’s College and Friend’s High School, Hobart, Tasmania; was a cashier in the Commonwealth Bank, Hobart, but on the outbreak of war volunteered and enlisted 20 Aug. 1914. He left for Egypt with the first Expeditionary Force; took part in the landing at Gaba Tepe on 25 April, 1915, when the 12th Battn. held the post of honour as covering party; was wounded and taken prisoner on that occasion and died a prisoner of war in the Turkish Military Hospital at Biga, Asia Minor, 9 May, 1915; _unm._

=BROOKE, WALTER=, Sergt., 6506, 26 Coy. R.E., _s._ of Alfred Brooke, of Oxford Road, Mistley, by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of George Scott, of Sutton; _b._ Lawford, co. Essex, 3 Feb. 1885; educ. Mistley Wesleyan School; enlisted in the R.E. in 1899, and was killed in action by a shell, 10 Nov. 1914; _unm._

=BROOKER, HORACE BRIAN=, Rifleman, 9th (Queen Victoria’s Rifles) London Regt., only _s._ of Horace Sidney Brooker, of Queen’s Road, Weybridge, Draper and Outfitter, by his wife, Kate, dau. of John Jonas Couzens; _b._ Weybridge, 20 June, 1888; educ. St. James School there, and enlisted in the 9th London Regt. 21 Aug. 1914, going into camp three days later. He was home only once subsequently, for a few hours, immediately preceding his departure for the front on 2 Nov. After a fortnight’s training in France, he went with his regt. straight into the firing line, and there he remained, with intervals of relief, right up to the memorable fight for possession of Hill 60, where he was killed in action, 21 April, 1915; _unm._ In his last letter, dated 14 April, he referred to a visit of Zeppelins which had dropped 11 bombs within 200 yards of the regt., making holes 24 ft. in diameter. A comrade (Rifleman Barry) wrote: “I have been closely associated with Brian since we came out in November last, and during the dreary months of bad weather in the trenches his cheery influence did much to keep us going. There is not the slightest doubt that the hill would have been lost but for the timely arrival of our regt. and the courage shown both by officers and men, who were determined to hang on like grim death, even when some men of other regts. were beginning to give way. No. 1 platoon had to get out of the trenches and charge across the open and occupy a small German trench in front, and it was while doing this that Brian was killed.” Brooker was a well-known Surrey athlete, he had captained the Weybridge Football Club for several seasons, and achieved international A.F.A. honours, thrice accompanying representative teams to the Continent.

=BROOKER, WILLIAM JAMES=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 1282), 199598, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BROOKING, CHARLES WILLIAM=, Leading Seaman, 234617, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BROOKS, ALFRED HAROLD=, Private R.M.L.I. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 1888), late Ch./12955 H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BROOKS, AUGUSTUS=, Private, No. 27310, C Coy. 15th Battn. (48th Highlanders of Toronto), Canadian Expeditionary Force; _b._ about 1889; was admitted to Dr. Barnardo’s Homes, 16 Oct. 1895; emigrated to Canada in July, 1898, and settled at Riga, North-West Territory, the reports received concerning him being “uniformly good over the whole period of his stay in Canada”; volunteered for service overseas on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; left Canada with the first contingent in Oct.; went to France, Feb. 1915; was wounded in the left shoulder at Langemarck, and was in hospital for a time, and was killed in action at Ypres, 23 April, 1915; _unm._

=BROOKS, GEORGE=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4515), S.S. 103523, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BROOKS, JAMES VINCENT=, Private, No. 6/203, C Coy., Canterbury Infantry Battn., New Zealand Expeditionary Force, _s._ of James Brooks, of 88, Valley, Wakefield, Nelson, New Zealand, Farmer; _b._ Wakefield, New Zealand, 3 July, 1894; educ. there; volunteered and joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 18 Aug. 1914; left for Egypt with the main body in Oct.; took part in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25 April, 1915, and was killed in action there, 8 May following; _unm._

=BROOKS, ROWLAND CAUSER=, 2nd Lieut., 1/6th Battn. The Manchester Regt (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of Buckley Brooks, of The Manor House, Hale Barns, co. Chester, by his wife, Anna, dau. of Henry Causer, of Melbourne, Victoria; _b._ Cheetham, Manchester, 12 April, 1892; educ. Merton House, Penmanmaur, and Dean Close, Cheltenham; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 2/6th Battn. Manchester Regt. 31 Oct. 1914; joined the 1st Battn. in Egypt early in 1915, and proceeded with it to the Dardanelles. He was killed in action, whilst leading his men in the famous charge at Krithia on 4 June, 1915, from which only five officers and less than 200 men returned out of the 6th Battn.; _unm._

=BROOKSBANK, HUGH GODFREY=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. Alexandra, Princess of Wales’ Own Yorkshire Regt., 3rd _s._ of Edward Clitherow Brooksbank, of Healaugh Old Hall, Tadcaster, late Major, Yorkshire Artillery, by his wife, Katherine Graham, dau. of the late Hugh Morris Lang, of Broadmeadows, Selkirk, and grandson of Edward Brooksbank, Lord of the Manor and Patron of Healaugh; _b._ 24 Nov. 1893; educ. Radley; received his commission in the Yorkshire’s, 5 Feb. 1913, and was promoted Lieut. 15 Nov. 1914. He was severely wounded at the first Battle of Ypres, 2 Nov. 1914, and died in London 16 Dec. following; _unm._ He was twice mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatches [16 Jan. and 31 May, 1915] for conspicuous gallantry in the field, and writing of his conduct at Ypres the senior officer of the regt. said: “A braver lad never stepped this earth; he was left in command of B Coy. when all his seniors had been shot. He commanded it like a veteran and on two occasions was largely responsible for the regt. being saved. He has been recommended for decoration.”

=BROOMHAM, WILLIAM=, Leading Seaman (R.F.R., B. 2605), 172555, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BROSTER, JESSEP=, Ship’s Cook, 343743, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BROTCHIE, ROBERT TRAILL=, Surgeon, R.N.V.R., only _s._ of James Brotchie, of Swanney, Orkney, Tea Merchant, by his wife, Janet Catharine, dau. of Richard Brotchie, of Yorkshire; _b._ Crouch End, London, 29 Aug. 1885; educ. St. Paul’s School, London, and the London Hospital; served in the British Red Crescent Expedition in Tripoli, 1912, for which he received a medal; joined R.N.V.R. 13 Nov. 1913, and before being called up on 4 Aug. 1914 was in practice in Tarbert Loch, Tyne. He was lost on board H.M.S. Bulwark when that ship was blown up at Sheerness, 26 Nov. 1914. He _m._ at Kingston-on-Thames, 6 July, 1910, Theo., 4th dau. of Robert Horne, of Kendal, co. Westmoreland, and had three children: Lindsay Drummond, _b._ 10 Jan. 1912 (deceased), Jean Muriel and Joan Dora, twins, _b._ 27 May, 1913.

=BROTHERSTON, ROBERT THOMAS=, Private, No 2605, 7th Durham L.I., 2nd _s._ of James Brotherston, of Rowlandson Terrace, Sunderland, engineer, by his wife, Jeannie, dau. of Alexander Henderson; _b._ Sunderland, 26 Dec. 1894; educ. Cowan Terrace Juvenile School, and Argyle House School, Sunderland; joined the 7th Durham L.I. 6 Sept. 1914, and died at the Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, 5 May, 1915, of wounds received in action. He was buried in the East Cemetery there; _unm._

=BROTHERTON, RICHARD=, Private, No. 6015, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, 1st _s._ of Richard Brotherton, of 34, Lindum Avenue, Lincoln, formerly an Engine Driver, Great Northern Railway, by his wife, Betsy, dau. of John Graves; _b._ Lincoln, 2 Feb. 1881; educ. St. Peter at Gowts public school there; enlisted 18 Jan. 1905, and served three years with the colours, then joining the Huddersfield Borough Police Force. On mobilization, 5 Aug. 1914, he was called up, went to France with the Expeditionary Force, and was reported missing after the fighting at Ypres, 29 Oct. 1914, and is assumed to have been killed on or about that date. He _m._ at Lincoln, 24 May, 1908, Fanny (8, Fairfield Street, off Monk’s Road, Lincoln), yst. dau. of the late George Brown, of Poolham Hall, Horncastle, and had a posthumous son, George Richard, _b._ 9 (_d._ 31) Jan. 1915.

=BROUGH, HUGH=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4819), S.S. 104209, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BROUGHTON, ERNEST CHAMIER=, Lieut.-Col., 3rd Battn. York and Lancaster Regt., _s._ of Robert John Porcher Broughton, M.A., Cambridge, Solicitor by Royal Appointment to the Coldstream Guards; _b._ London 3 June, 1858; educ. Harrow and Sandhurst; entered the Army as a Sub-Lieut. in the 6th Foot in Nov. 1876, and was transferred to the 65th (2nd North Riding) Foot in Jan. 1878, and served with them in India. In 1884 his regt. was ordered home, but were disembarked at Suakim, and took part in the Soudan Campaign, including the Battles of El Teb and Tamai. He got his company in 1885 and field rank in 1894 when he was posted to the 2nd Battn. York and Lancaster Regt. (the old 84th) in South Africa and subsequently served in Mauritius and India till 1901, when he retired. Immediately on his arrival home he joined the 3rd Battn. (Doncaster Militia) of his old regt. as a Capt. Three months later he was appointed Major for service in the South African War, and at the close of that campaign reverted to a company command. In 1908 he was again promoted to field rank, thus gaining the unusual distinction of being three times a Major. Three months later he received the honorary rank of Lieut.-Col., and 20 April, 1909, was promoted to substantive rank to command the 3rd York and Lancaster Special Reserve, and had two extensions of service. He died in the Armstrong College Military Hospital, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 17 Dec. 1914, while in command of his regt. then on east coast defence duty. Col. Broughton _m._ at Brighton, 2 Feb. 1888, Jane Henrietta King (The Cedar, Castle Donington, near Derby), dau. of Major Benjamin Bloomfield Keane, Ceylon Rifles, by his wife, Rebecca Kate, dau. of Capt. Harloe Dennis, of Galway, but had no issue. For over 25 years he was Editor of the regimental journal, “The Tiger and the Rose.”

=BROWN, ALBERT EDWARD=, Officer’s Steward, 2nd Class, L. 4305, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BROWN, ALBERT MOORE=, Private, No. 5011, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, 3rd _s._ of Edward Brown; enlisted 16 Feb. 1903, went to France with the Expeditionary Force in Aug. 1914, was wounded on 14 Sept., and was first reported as missing on 2 Jan. 1915, and later, to have been killed on that date. He _m._ at Offenham, 16 May, 1914, Emma (Offenham, near Eversham), dau. of James Clarke.

=BROWN, ALBERT VICTOR=. D.C.M., L.-Corpl., No. 4943, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of Edward Brown, of 34, Cemetery Road, Forest Gate; _b._ co. Middlesex; enlisted as a Boy, 2 Jan. 1903; became a Driver 5 Aug. 1908, and L.-Corpl. 26 May, 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 12 Aug. 1914; was awarded the Distinguished Conduct medal [London Gazette, 17 Dec. 1914] “for gallantry on 28 Sept. 1914, in assisting to remove into safety the wounded who were lying exposed in the open,” and was killed in action at Rentel, 5 Nov. following. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 8 Oct. [London Gazette, 9 Dec.] 1914.

=BROWN, ALBERT WILLIAM=, Private, No. 63087, 3rd Battn. (Canadian Grenadier Guards) Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Albert Charles Brown, of Balsham, co. Cambs., by his wife, Mary, dau. of James Purkiss; _b._ Balsham, 19 Aug. 1889; educ. County Council school there, and went to Canada, 22 March, 1912. He had joined the Canadian Grenadiers in June, 1913, and on the outbreak of war volunteered for foreign service, came over with the 2nd Contingent, and after a period of training at Shorncliffe went to the Western front. He had only been in France a month when he was killed in action, 26 May, 1915; _unm._

=BROWN, ALEXANDER BALFOUR=, Private, No. 9695, 1st Battn. Scots Guards, _s._ of William Brown, of Newlyle, co. Forfar; _b._ Ceres, Coupar, co. Fife; enlisted 2 Sept. 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 25 Jan. 1915.

=BROWN, ARTHUR EDWARD=, Sergt., No. 692, 3rd Dragoon Guards (C Squadron), yst. _s._ of Thomas Brown, of Barlby, near Selby, Farmer; _b._ Kirkdeighton, 1889; educ. Barlby; enlisted about 1907, and when war was declared was in Egypt with his regt. He came home, went to the Front on 9 Nov., was wounded in action at Poperinghe on the 16th, and died two days later, 18 Nov. 1914. He _m._ at Aldershot, (--), and left one dau.

=BROWN, ARTHUR KENNISH=, Private, No. 6188, 7th Platoon, 2nd Coy., 1st Battn., Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of the late Rev. William Cowell Brown, by his wife, Fannie (20, Wellington Road, Brighton), dau. of William Isaac Lefeaux; _b._ Dalston, London, 22 May, 1878; educ. Coopers’ Company School, London, and Manor House School (Dr. Maxwell’s), Clapham; went to Canada in April, 1913; enlisted at London, Ontario, about a fortnight after war was declared; came over with the 1st Contingent, and after training on Salisbury Plain during the winter, went to France in Feb. 1915, and was killed in action near Festubert, 23 May, 1915; _unm._ The following report in connection with his death was sent by the Canadian Record Office: “On the night of 23–24 May our company was out on a working party. The work in question was the digging of a trench in front of the firing line. The men were working in pairs, and I was detailed with Private Brown. After working for about three hours, we were observed by the enemy, who immediately opened on us with artillery fire. The first shell landed four feet in front of me and a piece of the casing struck Private Brown in the head, killing him instantly. I cannot say what was done with his body, but I understand that the company holding the front line brought it in early the following morning. I believe he was buried in rear of our first line trench. This was at Festubert. It is impossible to give map location of the spot referred to.”

=BROWN, BERTRAM=, Private, No. 2524, 1/9th Battn., Royal Scots (Highlanders) (T.F.), _s._ of late George Brown, by his wife, Christina Jane Adie (15, Warrender Park Terrace, Edinburgh), dau. of the late William Mitchell, of Leith; _b._ Leith, 27 Sept. 1892; educ. Edinburgh: prior to the outbreak of war was serving as 2nd Engineer on the s.s. Glitra, which was sunk by U-17, being one of the first of our merchant ships to suffer that fate. Brown and his comrades were compelled to row to the Norwegian coast in their boats. A week later (31 Oct.) he enlisted in the “Dandy Ninth,” and was shot by a sniper at Ypres, 9 April, 1915, when entering the trenches with supplies; _unm._

=BROWN, CHARLES=, Private, No. 5171, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of John Brown, of Wookey, Wells, Somerset; _b._ co. Somerset; enlisted 24 Aug. 1903; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 12 Aug. 1914; killed in action at Rentel, 8 Nov. 1914; _unm._

=BROWN, CHARLES ALFRED=, Trooper, No. 830, Royal Canadian Dragoons, Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Charles Ambrose Brown, of 93, Harcourt Avenue, Toronto, Canada (who served with the 12th York Rangers in the Fenian raid, 1866); by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of John J. Lunan; _b._ Markham, York, co. Ontario, 1 March, 1883; educ. Toronto; joined the 1st Canadian Garrison Artillery at Halifax, N.S., in Feb. 1900, and after serving two years, came home and enlisted in the 3rd Canadian Mounted Rifles for service in South Africa, being given the rank of Corpl. He afterwards served in the Royal North West Mounted Police, and was one of the body of picked men sent over to attend the Coronation of King George and received the Silver Coronation Medal. On the outbreak of the European War, he re-enlisted 19 Aug. 1914; came over with the first contingent, 1 Oct. 1914; went to France April, 1915, and was killed in action at Messines, 20 Sept. 1915; _unm._

=BROWN, EDWARD=, Private, No. 81105, 8th (formerly 32nd) Battn., Canadian Expeditionary Force, 3rd _s._ of George Edward Brown, of Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Canada, formerly cashier at the Woolley and North Gawber Collieries, Barnsley, now farming at Lloydminster, by his wife, Louisa, dau. of Richard Horner, of Outwood, New Wakefield; _b._ Darton, near Barnsley, co. York, 5 Aug. 1888; educ. Darton Grammar School and St. Mary’s Church School, Barnsley; went to Canada with his family, with the Barr party of Colonists, leaving Liverpool, 30 March, 1903, and reached what is now known as the Lloydminster District in the following May, after trekking about 200 miles from Saskatoon, the nearest railway point at that time. After the outbreak of war he volunteered and enlisted at Lloydminster, 10 Nov. 1914; came over in March, 1915, went to the Front 26–27 April, 1915; was seriously wounded on the night of 20–21 May, 1915, at or near Festubert, and died on the 23rd; _unm._ He was buried in the ground of Hinges Chateau.

=BROWN, FREDERICK GEORGE=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 15571. H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=BROWN, FREDERICK JAMES=, Private, R.M.L.I. (Ports.), 7549, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BROWN, FREDERICK WILLIAM=, Private, No. 10327, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of William Brown, of 2, Treadway Road, Hackney Road, N.E.; _b._ co. Middlesex; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action at Cuinchy, 6 Feb. 1915.

=BROWN, GEORGE=, Stoker, Petty Officer, 306510, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._

=BROWN, GEORGE=, Private, No. 7870, 1st Battn. Scots Guards, _s._ of William Brown, of Burnside Cottage, Newmill, Keith; _b._ Keith, co. Banff; enlisted 24 March, 1911, aged 20; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; reported missing, 11 Nov. 1914; _unm._

=BROWN, GEORGE FREDERICK=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 15562, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=BROWN, GEORGE SHIPTON=, L.-Corpl., R.M.L.I. (Ports.), 10513, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BROWN, GEORGE WILLIAM=, Private, No' 8563, 1st Suffolk Regt., 2nd _s._ of Frederick William Brown, of Chaplin’s Cottage, Caple St. Mary, near Ipswich, formerly of Gosbeck, Suffolk, Shepherd, by his wife, Mary Ann, dau. of William Dye, of Helmingham; _b._ Stowmarket, Suffolk, 12 Aug. 1893; educ. Ashbocking and Gosbeck schools; joined the Army 18 June, 1912, and was killed in action 7 May, 1915; _unm._

=BROWN, HARRY JAMES=, Seaman, R.N.R., 4010A, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BROWN, HEDLEY=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 15474, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BROWN, HENRY AUGUSTUS=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 10013), 206254, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BROWN, HERBERT HENRY=, Bugler, R.M.A., 11965, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=HURST-BROWN, DUDLEY=, 2nd Lieut., R.F.A., yst. _s._ of W. Hurst-Brown, of Hurstbourne, 62, Oxford Gardens, W.; _b._ 8 June, 1897; educ. at Cardwallis, Maidenhead, and Winchester, where he was in the O.T.C. It had been intended that he should proceed to Oxford in the autumn, but war breaking out in the interval, he offered his services and received his commission in the Special Reserve on 11 Aug. 1914. He was at the Front five months, during which time he went through some of the most severe fighting, but escaped injury until receiving his fatal wounds in action in Flanders, 15 June, 1915. He died the same day; _unm._ In a letter received the day before his death he stated how glad he was he went to the Front, although the fighting was becoming something frightful, and that he saw but little chance as a junior officer of ever getting safely home again, and concluded the letter with the famous Latin epitaph of Horace, “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.”

=BROWN, JAMES=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 8655), S.S. 105081, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BROWN, JAMES=, Stoker, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BROWN, JAMES CARTMELL DENNISON=, 2nd Lieut., 5th Battn. Durham L.I. (T.F.), yr. _s._ of Sir Frank Brown, of Norton Priory, Stockton-on-Tees, D.L., by his wife, Charlotte, dau. of John Hedley, of South Hetton, co. Durham; _b._ Stockton-on-Tees, 2 Sept. 1893; educ. Rugby (1907), and Pembroke College, Cambridge (1912). On the outbreak of war he at once applied for a commission, and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the Durham L.I., 28 Aug. 1914. He went to France on 17 April, 1915, for divisional training, but consequent on the German attack with asphixiating gas his division was at once pushed to the front and engaged, and took part in the fighting around Ypres, 23 and 25 April, 1915. On Sunday, 25 April, he was wounded twice. He was first treated at Poperinghe Hospital, then removed to Hazebrouck, where he died on 27 April, 1915. His Colonel wrote: “He was one of the best officers we had, and did his duty to the last. On the day he was hit he had done valuable reconnaissance work in the morning, and, when hit, had taken part in a very good little attack. Although wounded in two places, he showed his pluck by returning unhelped to our lines. It is only by such examples as this that we may hope to conquer the enemy and keep up the tradition of the country.” A brother officer also wrote: “We all liked him very much, he was such a cheerful fellow, and so conscientious that I knew that anything entrusted to him, however slight or wearisome, would be properly carried out.” The Medical wrote: “He was a tremendous favourite with us all, and I can say I never had to attend to a pluckier lad.” His elder brother, Lieut. Frank D. Brown, of the same battn., was wounded near Ypres in May, 1915, and is again (1916) on active service.

=BROWN, JOHN ALEXANDER=, Rifleman, No. 3215, 17th Battn. (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of William Brown, Corpl., A Coy. 1st Battn. (London Irish) The London Regt. (with 28 years’ service), by his wife, Sarah; _b._ Old Street, Shoreditch, 10 April, 1876; educ. St. John’s Road Higher Grade School there; served 12 years with the London Irish, and after the outbreak of war joined the Poplar and Stepney Rifles, 10 Sept. 1914; was wounded at the Battle of Loos, 25 Sept. 1915, and died in King George’s Hospital, Stamford Street, 21 Nov. following. He _m._ at Hoxton, 4 Jan. 1897, Alice Rosina (18, Hemsworth Street, Hoxton), dau. of John Brown, and had seven children: John Alexander, _b._ 2 Aug. 1902; George Arthur, _b._ 22 March, 1905; William Charles Joseph, _b._ 3 April, 1907; Alice Rosina, _b._ 23 July, 1897; Minnie, _b._ 18 Sept. 1900; Florence Marion, _b._ 22 Sept. 1910; and Blanche Mabel, _b._ 16 Sept. 1912.

=BROWN, JOHN EDWARD GUY=, Lieut., 1st Battn. The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regt., yst. _s._ of Alexander Francis Garden Brown, of Magonet-Stoke Gabriel, co. Devon, by his wife, Charlotte Mary, dau. of James William Alston, of Stockbriggs, co. Lanark; _b._ Swindrigemuir, co. Ayr, 28 Aug. 1892, and was educ. at Bradfield College. He received his commission in the 2nd Battn. of the Royal West Kent Regt., then in India, on 20 Sept. 1911, when just 19. Having been applied for in 1913, as an officer for the 64th Pioneers by the Commandant, he successfully passed two examinations in Indian languages, winning thereby a substantial prize given by the Indian Government, and intended to pass the final in the autumn of 1914. He became Lieut. on 1 July, 1914, and was at home on leave when war broke out. He was then attached on its formation to the 6th Service Battn. of the Royal West Kents in the new army. In Oct. 1914, in consequence of the heavy losses sustained by the 1st Battn. in the Battle of Ypres, he was sent out to join it, but by an error in the Army List copied in the newspaper accounts he was given as attached to the Royal Berkshire Regt. On leaving the 6th Battn. his commanding officer wrote: “I am very sorry to lose your son; he did very good work while with my battn. and I can ill afford to lose him. However, his work will bear its fruit in the future.” He spent the winter in the trenches between Messines and Zillebeke and went through some heavy fighting in Nov. when the battn. lost so many officers, that he, though a junior, had to act as company commander during the months of Dec. and Jan. During this time in the trenches he passed a course of instruction under the R.E. officer attached to the battn. which qualified him as a regimental scout and bomb officer, a post he held at the time of his death. He was killed in action at Hill 60, near Zillebeke, Flanders. 22 Feb. 1915; _unm._ His commanding officer, Col. P. M. Robinson, wrote: “I regret your son’s death immensely, he was a gallant man and a good officer, always ready to do rather than to talk. He had won my admiration on several occasions during the time I have been commanding this battn., and I had a very high opinion of him. I much regret his career has been cut short”; and Capt. Molony (who joined the battn. in Feb. from the reserve of officers): “During the short time I knew your son I acquired a very real respect and a great liking for him. This being my first experience of trench work, he really commanded the company, while I watched his methods and learnt from him. I was very much struck by his thorough efficiency as well as his imperturbable courage. Having left the Army nearly eight years ago and never before having been in action, I badly wanted someone to put me in the way of it. No one could have done it more thoroughly and at the same time tactfully than your son. During this time he was offered and accepted the very honourable, but at the same time dangerous position of battn. scout officer. I did not like it much because it would mean that I should very often be deprived of his assistance, but I heard the commanding officer, when discussing his suitableness, say among other things ‘He is as brave as a lion.’ He is a great loss to the regt. and his qualities would have carried him very far in his profession had he been spared. I hope it will be some consolation to you to know that he did not suffer. When I heard he was hit I went to him at once. He was quite unconscious, and remained so until he died, perhaps some two minutes later.” Speaking of his death, the Adjutant said: “He was setting a splendid example, and, regardless of danger, was walking about laughing at the bombs, and greatly encouraging his men by his behaviour.”

=BROWN, JOHN SAMUEL=, Chief Armourer, 341170, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BROWN, JOHN SAMUEL=, A.B., 201534 (Chat.), H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BROWN, NORMAN=, Private, No. 12/1569, 15th North Auckland Infantry, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Arthur Brown, formerly of co. Down, Ireland, by his wife, Mary (44, Springfield Road, Christchurch, New Zealand), dau. of Abernethy Patterson; _b._ Christchurch, New Zealand, March, 1881; educ. St. Alban’s School, Christchurch; volunteered Dec. 1914, and died of wounds at Gaba Tepe, 11 May, 1915; _unm._

=BROWN, NORMAN McLEOD=, Sergt., No. 1057, 1/14th Battn. (London Scottish) The London Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of Robert Brown, of Kirkcaldy, co. Fife, Draper, by his wife, Mary Davidson, dau. of David Findlay; _b._ Kirkcaldy, 16 Nov. 1888; educ. High School there; entered the Civil Service and received an appointment in the India Office, where he was engaged till he volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war. He had been a member of the London Scottish for some seven years, went to France with them as a corpl., was promoted Sergt. at the Front, and at the time of his death had been recommended for a commission. He was shot in the trenches at Givenchy by a sniper, 24 Dec. 1914, and was buried in the cemetery there; _unm._

=BROWN, OSCAR=, Lieut., 7th Lancers, Indian Army, attd. 4th Dragoon Guards, 8th _s._ of the late William Hooper Masters Brown, of Highfield House, Sherborne, co. Dorset, by his wife, Mary, dau. of William James, of Pembroke, _b._ Sherborne, 20 May, 1888; educ. Sherborne School, and Sandhurst; gazetted to the 48th Northamptonshire Regt. 19 Sept. 1908, and promoted Lieut. 7 May, 1910. In Sept. 1912 he exchanged into the Indian Army, and joined the 7th (Hariana) Lancers. While riding for the Delhi Cup in 1913 his horse fell and injured him to such an extent that he was invalided home, and on the outbreak of the war, being still in England, he was attached to the 4th Dragoon Guards, going to France with them in Sept. 1914. He was killed in action by a shell at Ypres, 24 April, 1915, and was buried at Elverdinghe; _unm._

=BROWN, PHILIP GEORGE MORTIMER=, Private, No. 9704, 5th Battn. (London Rifle Brigade) The London Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of the late Frederick Robert Brown, Solicitor, by his wife, Emily Louisa (Thirlmere, Dukesthorpe Road, Sydenham, S.E.), dau. of George Phillips, of Beckenham, _b._ Sundridge Park, co. Kent, 15 Oct. 1896; educ. The Hall, Sydenham Preparatory School, and Dulwich College. He joined the London Rifle Brigade early in 1914, and on the outbreak of war was with his regt. at Eastbourne for the midsummer manœuvres. Volunteering for foreign service, he left with his regt. for France early in Nov. 1914, and was killed in action at Ypres, 3 May, 1915; _unm._ His commanding officer wrote: “He died doing his duty to the last, and was buried the same night. After he was slightly wounded himself, he spent all his time attending to other wounded friends, and it was whilst performing this duty that he was killed.”

=BROWN, WALTER GILBERT=, Seaman, R.N.R., 13630, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BROWN= (_alias_ =BROWNING=), =WILLIAM=, Stoker, 1st Class (N.C.S.), 298889, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=WREFORD-BROWN, CLAUDE, D.S.O.=, Capt., 2nd Battn. 5th Northumberland Fusiliers (T.F.), 5th _s._ of the late William Wreford-Brown, by his wife, Clara Jane (5, Litfield Place, Clifton, Bristol), dau. of Henry Clark, M.D.; _b._ Clifton, 17 Feb. 1876: educ. Waynflete, Durdham Downs; Wells House, Malvern Wells; and Charterhouse. After serving in the Royal Warwickshire Militia, he obtained his commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 1st Battn. of the “Fighting Fifth,” 15 May, 1897, being promoted Lieut. 24 Nov. 1899, and Capt. 15 April, 1901. In 1898 he took part in the Soudan Campaign under Lord Kitchener, being present at the Battle of Omdurman and the capture of Khartoum (Queen’s medal and Egyptian medal with clasp). He was employed in the occupation of Crete in 1898, and then, under Lord Methuen, served throughout the South African War, 1899–1902. He took part in the advance on Kimberley, including the actions at Belmont, Enslin, Modder River and Magersfontein. Afterwards he took part in the operations in the Orange Free State (March-May, 1900) and in the Transvaal (July-Nov. 1900), including actions at Venterskroom and Rhenoster River. Twice mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 9 July and 10 Sept. 1901], he received the D.S.O. for his services at Lichtenburg and the Queen’s medal with four clasps and the King’s medal with two clasps. He was selected to represent his regt. at the Coronation of King Edward VII. In April, 1908, he was on the North-West Frontier of India, and while serving in the Mohmand Campaign was seriously wounded. On 4 Sept. 1912. he was appointed an instructor at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, which post he filled until 17 Feb. 1915, when he joined the 2nd Battn. of his regt., then in France. Capt. Wreford-Brown was killed on the Menin Road, south of Ypres, 200 yards east of Wieltje Farm, north of Hooge, on Whit Monday, 24 May, 1915; unm. His regt. had been practically wiped out on the 13th, and when he heard of this he insisted on leaving Boulogne, where he was in hospital, and going back to reform the regt. He arrived at headquarters west of Ypres, Friday, 21 May, and there found 85 worn-out men of his battn., and about 450 of the 5th Fusiliers and Durham L.I., and 15 officers, a new draft which had just arrived, all from the same depôt. These he formed into a battn., and on Sunday, 23 May, was ordered to join the Brigade--only two clear days to form a new regt.! They marched between 15 and 29 miles on a sweltering hot day, losing several men on the way under shell fire. They arrived at Menin Road on Monday (Empire Day) the 24th; and were ordered out into support at 6 a.m. Wreford-Brown was commanding. At about 1 p.m. he received orders to advance to a certain point and attack a position which was allotted to him. The battn. shortly after leaving its support position came under heavy fire, and for a distance of two and a-half miles across country of open fields of buttercups, was continually under high explosive fire and shrapnel, machine and rifle fire. The regt. was formed up for the attack on the ridge which they took, but with very heavy casualties. Ten of the officers were wounded in this, leaving Wreford-Brown and two lieutenants. These and the remaining men dug themselves in, and on getting to the ridge they found the Germans very strong in a farm called Wieltje: it looked as if the Germans were on three sides of them. The regt. on the right could not be found, and two companies of the 5th were taking on three miles of Germans. At 7 p.m. he sent word as to his position and the heavy casualties. The answer came back: “You must try and take it and hold it at all costs.” One of the captains in the firing line who was wounded and lying in a ditch reports that Wreford-Brown told him to go back to hospital, and congratulated him on getting back to England wounded, and said: “Good-bye, old fellow, I shall not see you again. I am ordered to attack the place, it is hopeless, but I shall lead my men to it”; and with that he turned to his men and called for a rifle and bayonet and said: “Now we will make the final charge of the Mohicans,” which he did, leading the men. The Germans had 20 to 25 machine guns concentrated on them: Wreford-Brown fell 10 yards from the German trench mortally wounded. The remaining Lieut. reformed for a second attack and got wounded; the remaining few retired back to the trench behind the hedge, which they had dug after gaining the ridge. Only one officer got back safely, and he was with the machine gun a long way behind, which did not come into action. The regt. on the right had been delayed and came up afterwards. In the opinion of all he was shot several times and was certainly killed. Several attempts were made to recover his body, but it lay between two trenches of the Germans, and it was impossible owing to their withering fire. The Commander-in-Chief came round himself and thanked the survivors for their bravery. His brother officers bore general testimony to his capability and great courage. His brother, Capt. O. E. Wreford-Brown, died 7 July, 1916, of wounds received in action on the Somme.

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The Roll of Honour, Volume 1Chapter XIII: Part 13

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