Date de naissance: 21/12/1882

Lieu de naissance: Bolton, Lancashire, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni

Profession: Tisserand

Pays: Angleterre, Royaume-Uni

Force armée: British Expeditionary Force

Rang: Lance Corporal

Numéro de service: 240735

Incorporation date: 05/09/1914

Incorporation nom de lieu: Bolton, Lancashire, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni

Unités:  —  Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, 1/5th Bn.  (Dernière unité connue)

Date de décès: 31/07/1917

Lieu de décès: California, Wieltje, Belgique

Cause du décès: Killed in action (K.I.A.)

Âge: 34

1914-15 Star Médaille

British War Medal Médaille — 23/07/1920

Victory Medal Médaille — 23/07/1920

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.

"Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Uniform, 2018, pg. 28-29. Sources utilisées

"The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment", Wylly H.C., Londen, The Royal United Service Institution, 1933, pg. 209-210. Sources utilisées

Ancestry Autre référence

CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/929594/brown,-walter/ Sources utilisées

The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources utilisées

War Diary Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, 1/5th Bn. http://www.nmarchive.com/ Autre référence