Biography of Gunner John Brown (113906)
Royal Garrison Artillery 265th Siege Battery
Died 9th June 1917

Soldier

  • Name: John Brown
  • Date of birth: 1883
  • Place of Birth: Bourne, Lincolnshire, England
  • Date of Birth Registration: April – June 1883
  • Place of Birth Registration: Bourne, Lincolnshire, England

Father

  • Name: John Brown
  • DOB: 1851
  • Place of Birth: Thurlby, Lincolnshire, England
  • Occupation: Rat catcher on farm

Mother

  • Name: Mary Ann Falkner
  • DOB: 1855
  • Place Of Birth: Bourne, Lincolnshire, England
  • Marriage: 1874 Bourne District

Siblings: (Name), (DOB), (POB)

  • William Henry Brown, 1874, Bourne
  • Charles Brown, 1877, Bourne
  • Albert Brown, 1879, Bourne
  • Shadrach Brown, 1880, Bourne
  • John Brown, 1883, Bourne
  • Mary Ann Brown, 1886, Bourne
  • Elizabeth Brown, 1888, Bourne
  • Arthur Brown, 1890, Bourne
  • Fred Brown, 1892, Bourne
  • Joseph Brown, 1896, Bourne

Census

  • 1891: John is living with his mother at 2 Eadows Row, Bourne, Lincolnshire. His father was in H.M. Prison, Lincoln for poaching.
  • 1901: John is living with his parents in Eastgate, Bourne, Lincolnshire.  The census gives him an age of 17 and he is listed as a brewers carier.
  • 1911: John is living with his parents in Eastgate, Bourne, Lincolnshire. The census gives him an age of 27 and he is listed as a fellmonders labourer.

Relatives in services

  • Four of his brithers served in the forces.

Marriage

  • No marriage for John has been found and we can assume that he never had the opportunity to marry.

Newspaper Mentions

  • Grantham Journal Saturday 19th May 1917
    LOCAL CASUALTIES. Corpl Jos Brown son of Mr and Mrs Brown of Eastgate, Bourne is in hospital at Hampton Court suffering from wounds in his back and right hand. He is one of six sons, five of whom are in the army. Pte G Sherwin, son of Mr and Mrs Luke Sherwin, Bourne who some months ago was officially notified as wounded and missing, is now reported dead. The official notification of Pte Sherwin’s death was received by his parents last week. A memorial service for Pte Sherwin and Pte W Needham was held on Sunday at the Abbey Church. Official notification has this week been received that Corpl E Robinson, son of Mr and Mrs John Robinson, Woodview, Bourne has been Killed in action. Corpl Robinson was attached to the Lincolns.THURLBY
    ROLL OF HONOUR – Another well-known village lad has made the great sacrifice, in the person of Pre Walter Needham, whose father has recently heard the sad news. The second son of Mr William Needham of Northorpe, Pte Needham had been in the Army for two years. He was a quiet industrious lad and much respected in the village.

 

  • Grantham Journal Saturday 23rd June 1917
    OFFICAL NOTIFICATION has been received that Pte. John Brown, R.G.A. has doed from result of wounds received in action, Pte. Brown was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Brown, of Eastgate, Bourne. Death is reported to have taken place on the 9th inst. Mr. and Mrs, Brown have four other sons serving with the Forces, one having been wounded.

 

  • Sussex Daily News Monday 16th July 1917
    DIED OF WOUNDS
    BROWN, 113906, Gunner J., R.G.A. (Eastbourne)

Military Records

Attestation Papers

  • Available

Soldier’s Died In The Great War

  • These records show that Gunner John Brown, 113906, Royal Garrison Artillery Regiment was killed in action on 9th June 1917 in the Western European Theatre in France and Flanders.

Pension Records

  • Available

Effects Left To

  • Mother Mary Ann

Medals

  • The British Medal
  • The Victory Medal

Memorials

  • UK:
  • Bourne, Roll of Honour in Bourne Abbey Church
  • Bourne War Memorial in the Memorial Gardens

 

  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
  • In memory of Gunner John Brown, 113906, 265th Siege Bty., Royal Garrison Artillery Regiment who died on 09 June 1917 Age 34
  • Son of John and Mary Anne Brown, of 39, Eastgate, Bourne, Lincs.
  • Remembered with honour, Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord
  • Grave III. C. 184.

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

Military Service Timeline

  • Enlisted 12th February 1916 in Bourne
  • To the Army reserve 13th February 1916
  • Mobilized 11th August 1916
  • Posted to R.G.A 14th August 1916
  • Posted to the 2/2 battery 12th September 1916
  • Posted to the 265th Seige battery R.G.A. 7th October 1916
  • Enbarked Folkestone 27th February 1917
  • Disembarked Boulogne 17th February 1917
  • Wounded in action 8th June 1917
  • Died in action 9th June 1917
  • In his possession he had the sum of 43 francs and 90 centines which has been credited to his account.

 

  • This is ongoing research and will be posted when completed

Sources

  • WW1 Soldier’s Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
  • British Newspaper Archive.
  • Fold 3
  • Find My Past
  • Genealogist
  • Forces War Records
  • British Army Service Numbers
  • War Gratuity Calculator
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  • National Archives – Battalion War Diaries
  • General Registry Office