L/Cpl
Walter Brown
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 21/12/1882 |
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Place of birth: Bolton, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Weaver |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Lance Corporal |
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Service number: 240735 |
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Enlistment date: 05/09/1914 |
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Enlistment place: Bolton, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, 1/5th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 31/07/1917 |
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Place of death: California, Wieltje, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 34 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 43D |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal — 23/07/1920 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 23/07/1920 |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Walter Brown was born in 1882 in Bolton, Lancashire. He worked as a weaver in a textile factory and was married to Edith Cartman. They had one daughter, Dorothy. In September 1914 Walter enlisted as a volunteer. He even lied about his age. Walter stated that he was 28 years old instead of 31. By the summer of 1917 he served as a Lance corporal in the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, 1/5th Battalion, part of the 166th Brigade, of the 55th (West Lancashire) Division.
On 31 July 1917, the 55th Division took part in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, the opening stage of the Third Battle of Ypres. At 3.50 a.m., zero hour, the Division advanced from the hamlet of Wieltje, with three Brigades. Of the 166th brigade, the 1/5th Royal Lancaster, on the right, and the 1/5th Loyal North Lancaster, on the left, were the first to advance. The 1/5th Loyal North attacked a Trench system, dubbed California, penetrating the defenses 400 yards beyond the German third line. After the Battalion had consolidated a line in front of Bossaert Farm (Blue Line), the attack was resumed and the following two objectives (the Black and Green Line) were also captured. In the afternoon the Germans counter-attacked and the 166th brigade was forced to fall back to the Black Line. The men held these positions till the 1st of August, when they were relieved by the 36th (Ulster) Division.
Lance Corporal Brown was killed in action on 31 July 1917. The 34-year old possibly fell during the attack on the California Trench system. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial. Walter Brown left behind a wife and a daughter.
On 31 July 1917, the 55th Division took part in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, the opening stage of the Third Battle of Ypres. At 3.50 a.m., zero hour, the Division advanced from the hamlet of Wieltje, with three Brigades. Of the 166th brigade, the 1/5th Royal Lancaster, on the right, and the 1/5th Loyal North Lancaster, on the left, were the first to advance. The 1/5th Loyal North attacked a Trench system, dubbed California, penetrating the defenses 400 yards beyond the German third line. After the Battalion had consolidated a line in front of Bossaert Farm (Blue Line), the attack was resumed and the following two objectives (the Black and Green Line) were also captured. In the afternoon the Germans counter-attacked and the 166th brigade was forced to fall back to the Black Line. The men held these positions till the 1st of August, when they were relieved by the 36th (Ulster) Division.
Lance Corporal Brown was killed in action on 31 July 1917. The 34-year old possibly fell during the attack on the California Trench system. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial. Walter Brown left behind a wife and a daughter.
Sources 3
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1/5 Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2929/1). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303 Further reference |
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McCarthy C., Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Uniform, 2018), pg. 28-29. Sources used |
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Wylly H.C., The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, (Londen, The Royal United Service Institution, 1933), pg. 209-210. 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/929594 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=9af9b272-e0b6-40fe-a2f9-59ca30a6605b |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/559311 |