Martin George Brown - Papers relating to war service

1917-1919

Parent

Provenance: Most of this collection has clearly been in the possession of Martin Brown's sister, Miss Nora Katie Brown, of Pukekohe, Auckland, for many years. The diaries are likely to have come to her from her brother, presumably sometime after his death in 1966. Unfortunately, in a letter to Auckland Museum Librarian, Ian Thwaites, dated 14 July 1977, Miss Brown states that she burnt the remainder of her brother's letters as they contained only items of family interest and nothing of the war itself. Also in this same letter, Miss Brown makes mention of some lesson books belonging to her great grandmother Catherine Boyer, the earliest being 1803, that she was intending to donate to the Museum Library. These were not extant in 2010. Ian Thwaites' letter of acknowledgement, dated 12 August 1977, was not explicit enough in its content to ascertain whether the lesson books were in fact donated. Miss Brown's letter also contains additional commentary concerning the Boyer family, which may prove valuable to future family historians. An earlier donation of seven albums of postcards (known as the Brown Albums), collected by Martin Brown whilst on active service, was received into the pictorial collection in June, 1977. [Ref. MUS-2003-81, Library Correspondence, "B" and "Chq", 1951 - 1986]

Martin George Brown served with A Company, Auckland Infantry Battalion, 1NZEF, during World War I. He was wounded at the Battle of Messines in June, 1917, which resulted in the loss of two toes. After leaving hospital he spent the remainder of the war working in an office in France.

07 Jul 2023