Cpl
Samuel Alexander Browse
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 21/09/1887 |
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Place of birth: Cosham, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Sea Lake, Buloke, Victoria, Australia |
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Profession: Baker |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Corporal |
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Service number: 2043 |
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Enlistment date: 01/04/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 46th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 01/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Anzac, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 30 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 27 R |
Distinctions and medals 3
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British War Medal Medal |
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Military Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Samuel Alexander Browse was born on 21 September 1887 in Cosham, Plymouth, Hampshire, as the eldest son of Samuel and Margaret Badenock Browse. He grew up with two brothers and six sisters. Due to his father's service in the 2nd Dragoons, the family moved frequently. After a stay on the island of Jersey, they settled in Elgin, Scotland.
Samuel trained as a baker before emigrating to Melbourne on 17 October 1912 aboard the S.S. Geelong. He found work in Sea Lake, Victoria. On 9 March 1916, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Melbourne, officially beginning service on 1 April. He joined the 46th Battalion, part of the 12th Brigade of the 4th Australian Division, under service number 1885.
He left Australia on 20 May 1916 aboard the HMAT Medic and was promoted to Lance Corporal in December. On the night of 11–12 February 1917 at Gueudecourt, he protected his men and held the line against German counterattacks, earning a Military Medal on 27 March.
Soon after, he was wounded in the left shoulder and right hand, spending several months recovering in Birmingham. In August, he rejoined his unit as Corporal.
On 25 September, the 46th Battalion moved to the front near “China Wall” south of Ypres. Though no major attacks were planned, German fire was constant. On 30 September, Browse was fatally wounded. He was buried at Anzac Ridge, but his body was never recovered. He is commemorated on panel 27 R of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Samuel trained as a baker before emigrating to Melbourne on 17 October 1912 aboard the S.S. Geelong. He found work in Sea Lake, Victoria. On 9 March 1916, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Melbourne, officially beginning service on 1 April. He joined the 46th Battalion, part of the 12th Brigade of the 4th Australian Division, under service number 1885.
He left Australia on 20 May 1916 aboard the HMAT Medic and was promoted to Lance Corporal in December. On the night of 11–12 February 1917 at Gueudecourt, he protected his men and held the line against German counterattacks, earning a Military Medal on 27 March.
Soon after, he was wounded in the left shoulder and right hand, spending several months recovering in Birmingham. In August, he rejoined his unit as Corporal.
On 25 September, the 46th Battalion moved to the front near “China Wall” south of Ypres. Though no major attacks were planned, German fire was constant. On 30 September, Browse was fatally wounded. He was buried at Anzac Ridge, but his body was never recovered. He is commemorated on panel 27 R of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Sources 6
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46th Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/63/20). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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46th Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/63/21). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455 BROWSE S A). https://www.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG12). Https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Outwards Passenger Lists (The National Archives, Kew (TNA) BT27-118426). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1597978 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=d5a4e8bb-d390-418b-be5d-0371bb1f274c |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7372615 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=36627 |