Pte
Cyril Malcolm Brown
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1897 |
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Place of birth: Grafton, New South Wales, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: Prince Street, Grafton, New South Wales, Australia |
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Profession: Labourer |
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Religion: Presbyterian |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 1407 |
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Enlistment date: 18/01/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Glenreagh, New South Wales, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 36th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Tyne Cottage, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 20 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 25 |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Cyril Malcolm Brown was the son of John and Mary Brown. He was born around 1897 in Gafton, New South Wales, Australia. He continued to live in Grafton and worked as a labourer. In January 1916, Cyril enlisted in the Australian Army. He joined the 36th Battalion (9th Brigade, 3rd Division).
Cyril was killed on 12 October 1917 during the First Battle of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. On 11 October, the 36th Battalion advanced from Cavalry Farm, east of Ypres, towards the start lines near Tyne Cot. From Potsdam, they continued along the railway line, but were heavily shelled, including with gas grenades. From Zonnebeke Railway Station, the shelling turned into a barrage aimed at the route the troops were following. During the advance, the 36th Battalion suffered more than 100 losses. Taking up the starting positions was also slow due to ground conditions and shelling.
After starting the attack, the German troops soon opened a barrage, hitting Augustus Wood and Cemetery, among others. Despite milder explosions due to the soft ground, casualty numbers ran high. The 34th Battalion advanced with the Allied barrage and the 35th and 36th Battalions cleared the dugouts that had not been knocked out by the barrage. In the process, they were held up for some time by a post near Hillside Farm. They managed to surround the German troops and force a surrender, but suffered heavy losses in the process.
The first objective, which ran from the vicinity of Decline Copse to beyond Heine House, was achieved. The capture was followed by firing by snipers from Augustus Wood. They were eliminated, but killed several stretcher-bearers. The 35th Battalion moved on towards the second objective, which was near Vienna Cotts, under heavy machine-gun fire from Crest Farm and Passchendaele. They managed to reach the far left of the objective. A further advance was impossible. They were unable to hold and consolidate due to the heavy shelling. The casualty count was alarming. Eventually, a new line was formed between Augustus Wood and the junction of the Passchendaele Road with the railway line.
The 36th Battalion paid a high price for the attack on 12 October, with 114 men killed or missing and 300 wounded. It also cost Cyril Malcolm Brown his life. He was buried near today's Tyne Cot Cemetery. However, his body was not recovered or identified after the war. His name is mentioned on the Menin Gate in Ypres (panel 25).
Cyril was killed on 12 October 1917 during the First Battle of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. On 11 October, the 36th Battalion advanced from Cavalry Farm, east of Ypres, towards the start lines near Tyne Cot. From Potsdam, they continued along the railway line, but were heavily shelled, including with gas grenades. From Zonnebeke Railway Station, the shelling turned into a barrage aimed at the route the troops were following. During the advance, the 36th Battalion suffered more than 100 losses. Taking up the starting positions was also slow due to ground conditions and shelling.
After starting the attack, the German troops soon opened a barrage, hitting Augustus Wood and Cemetery, among others. Despite milder explosions due to the soft ground, casualty numbers ran high. The 34th Battalion advanced with the Allied barrage and the 35th and 36th Battalions cleared the dugouts that had not been knocked out by the barrage. In the process, they were held up for some time by a post near Hillside Farm. They managed to surround the German troops and force a surrender, but suffered heavy losses in the process.
The first objective, which ran from the vicinity of Decline Copse to beyond Heine House, was achieved. The capture was followed by firing by snipers from Augustus Wood. They were eliminated, but killed several stretcher-bearers. The 35th Battalion moved on towards the second objective, which was near Vienna Cotts, under heavy machine-gun fire from Crest Farm and Passchendaele. They managed to reach the far left of the objective. A further advance was impossible. They were unable to hold and consolidate due to the heavy shelling. The casualty count was alarming. Eventually, a new line was formed between Augustus Wood and the junction of the Passchendaele Road with the railway line.
The 36th Battalion paid a high price for the attack on 12 October, with 114 men killed or missing and 300 wounded. It also cost Cyril Malcolm Brown his life. He was buried near today's Tyne Cot Cemetery. However, his body was not recovered or identified after the war. His name is mentioned on the Menin Gate in Ypres (panel 25).
Sources 4
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36th Battalion Australian Infantry, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/53/12). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, BROWN C M). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 128-130. Sources used |
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Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM 8). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1597938 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=9db6eea7-93cb-43d7-9e95-8f23be7bac50 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7275596 |