Pte
Michael Thomas Brown
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1880 |
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Place of birth: Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Fireman (steam engine) |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 44116 |
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Enlistment date: 02/12/1914 |
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Enlistment place: Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Durham Light Infantry, 13th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 21/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Tower Hamlets, Geluveld, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 37 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 129 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Michael Thomas Brown was born in 1880 in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. He had a wife named Louisa, with whom he had six children. He worked as a fireman until he enlisted in December 1914. He first joined the Northumberland Fusiliers, but was transferred to the 13th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, part of the 68th Infantry Brigade of the 23rd Division in July 1917.
On the 20th September Michael’s Battalion took part in the Battle of the Menin Road. The 23rd Division advanced towards the ruins of Geluveld, along the Menin Road. The 68th Brigade was on the right and the 69th Brigade, on the left. Each of the attacking Brigades assigned one Battalion to each objective. In the 68th Brigade, the 11th Northumberland Fusiliers were to take the first objective, the 10th Northumberland Fusiliers were then to pass through the 11th and were to carry the assault to the second objective. When the second objective near the hamlet of Veldhoek had been secured, the 13th Durham Light Infantry were tasked to take the final objective, a road running from the Menin Road towards Tower Hamlets in front of the Gheluvelt Wood. The 13th DLI were to capture three German strongpoints on the final objective line.
Zero Hour was at 5.40 a.m. When the Battalion in front of them advanced, Michael’s unit left the assembly trenches. The 13th DLI arrived at the second objective on 8.50 a.m. An hour later the 13th DLI advanced and started the attack on the final objective. As soon as the men advanced, they came under heavy fire. The left of the Battalion was soon held up by a well-sited and dug-in German position. The right of the Battalion was dangerously exposed to machine-gunfire. Reinforcements were sent out to strengthen the advance. With the help off the reinforcements the 13th DLI captured and consolidated the final objective at 11.50 a.m.
At 8.00 a.m. in the morning of the 21st September the Germans attacked the left of the Battalion, but were repulsed. At 3.00 p.m. the Germans attacked once more, but this time targeting the right flank. This attack was also checked, tough the German artillery barrage did make several casualties. At 7.00 p.m., after two hours of heavy shelling, the Germans were seen massing on the right of the Menin Road near Gheluvelt. Where they prepared for an attack. Upon seeing this, an S.O.S. signal was sent up and the Germans were caught by the barrage before their attack could materialise. The rest of the night was quiet. In the early morning of the 22nd of September the 13th DLI Battalion was relieved from the frontline.
Private Michael Thomas Brown, 37, was killed in action on the 21st of September 1917, while holding the line on the Menin Road, North of Tower Hamlets. Fourteen soldiers were killed that day, amongst whom Private Brown. Michael has no known grave, and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial panel 129.
On the 20th September Michael’s Battalion took part in the Battle of the Menin Road. The 23rd Division advanced towards the ruins of Geluveld, along the Menin Road. The 68th Brigade was on the right and the 69th Brigade, on the left. Each of the attacking Brigades assigned one Battalion to each objective. In the 68th Brigade, the 11th Northumberland Fusiliers were to take the first objective, the 10th Northumberland Fusiliers were then to pass through the 11th and were to carry the assault to the second objective. When the second objective near the hamlet of Veldhoek had been secured, the 13th Durham Light Infantry were tasked to take the final objective, a road running from the Menin Road towards Tower Hamlets in front of the Gheluvelt Wood. The 13th DLI were to capture three German strongpoints on the final objective line.
Zero Hour was at 5.40 a.m. When the Battalion in front of them advanced, Michael’s unit left the assembly trenches. The 13th DLI arrived at the second objective on 8.50 a.m. An hour later the 13th DLI advanced and started the attack on the final objective. As soon as the men advanced, they came under heavy fire. The left of the Battalion was soon held up by a well-sited and dug-in German position. The right of the Battalion was dangerously exposed to machine-gunfire. Reinforcements were sent out to strengthen the advance. With the help off the reinforcements the 13th DLI captured and consolidated the final objective at 11.50 a.m.
At 8.00 a.m. in the morning of the 21st September the Germans attacked the left of the Battalion, but were repulsed. At 3.00 p.m. the Germans attacked once more, but this time targeting the right flank. This attack was also checked, tough the German artillery barrage did make several casualties. At 7.00 p.m., after two hours of heavy shelling, the Germans were seen massing on the right of the Menin Road near Gheluvelt. Where they prepared for an attack. Upon seeing this, an S.O.S. signal was sent up and the Germans were caught by the barrage before their attack could materialise. The rest of the night was quiet. In the early morning of the 22nd of September the 13th DLI Battalion was relieved from the frontline.
Private Michael Thomas Brown, 37, was killed in action on the 21st of September 1917, while holding the line on the Menin Road, North of Tower Hamlets. Fourteen soldiers were killed that day, amongst whom Private Brown. Michael has no known grave, and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial panel 129.
Sources 6
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.co.uk/ Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/843382/brown,-thomas-m./ Sources used |
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Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, C., "Passchendaele: The Day-by-Day Account", London, Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018, pg. 79-81. Sources used |
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Sheen, J., "With Bayonets Fixed: The 12th & 13th Battalions of the Durham Light Infantry in the Great War 1914-1918", Barsnely, Pen & Sword Military, 2013, pg. 239-244. Sources used |
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War Diary http://www.nmarchive.com/ Sources used |