Donald Forrester Brown
Born 23 Feb 1890 - Died 1 Oct 1916
- Service number
- WWI 8/3504 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- WW1 Sergeant AWMM Otago Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 10th (North Otago) Company AWMM
- War
- World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- Donald Forrester AWMM
- Surname
- Brown AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- WWI 8/3504 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- —
- Religion
- Presbyterian, Christian AWMM
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 23 Feb 1890 AWMM
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
- —
- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
- WW1 Pre 19 Oct 1915 AWMM Totara Block, Oamaru, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- WW1 Mrs R. Brown (mother), Polytechnic, Thames Street, Oamaru, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Pre 08 Jan 1916 AWMM Single AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
- Campaign
- 1914-1919 AWMM Western Front AWMM
- Battle of the Somme AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- WWI 8/3504 AWMM
- Military service
- Cadet Training AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Victoria Cross (VC) AWMM
London Gazette, No. 30130, dated 14th July, 1917, citation:-"For most conspicuous bravery and determination in attack (south-east of High Wood, France, on September 15, 1916), when the company to which he belonged had suffered very heavy casualties in officers and men from machine gun fire. At great personal risk this N.C.O. advanced with a comrade and succeeded in reaching a point within 30 yds. of the enemy guns. Four of the gun crew were killed and the gun captured. The advance of the company was continued until it was again held up by machine gun fire. Again Sergeant. Brown and his comrade, with great gallantry, rushed the gun and killed the crew. After this second position had been won, the company came under very heavy shell fire, and the utter contempt for danger and coolness under fire of this N.C.O. did much to keep up the spirit of his men. On a subsequent occasion in attack, Sgt. Brown showed most conspicuous gallantry. He attacked, single handed, a machine gun which was holding up the attack, killed the gun crew, and captured the gun. Later, whilst sniping the retreating enemy, this very gallant soldier was killed." AWMM - Victory Medal AWMM
- British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
- Victoria Cross (VC) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- —
- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- WW1 19 Oct 1915 AWMM
Age 25 AWMM
Farmer/Civilian AWMM - Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW1 08 Jan 1916-08 Feb 1916 AWMM
HMNZT 37 AWMM Vessel was Maunganui AWMM Private AWMM 9th Reinforcements Otago Infantry Battalion, D Company AWMM New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
- Height, Unknown Period AWMM
5 feet 7 inches AWMM - Weight, Unknown Period AWMM
168 pounds AWMM - Complexion, Unknown Period AWMM
dark AWMM - Eye colour, Unknown Period AWMM
grey-green AWMM - Hair colour, Unknown Period AWMM
dark brown AWMM
- Height, Unknown Period AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- WW1 Killed in Action AWMM
Sergeant AWMM
Otago Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 10th (North Otago) Company AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- 8/3504 Sergeant Donald Forrester Brown was born at Dunedin, New Zealand on 23 February 1890. He enlisted for service on 19 October 1915. On arrival in Egypt in March he was posted to 2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment, and promoted Sergeant prior to embarking for France in April.
Prior to enlistment Sgt Brown was a farmer on his own account in the Totara district near Oamaru. He was unmarried and his Victoria Cross was presented to his father, Mr Robert Brown, at Oamaru, by the Earl of Liverpool, Governor General, on 30 August 1917. His other medals were sent to his brothers, R. Brown and C.C. Brown, Oamaru, who were executors of his estate.
He began active service at Armentieres, France, and his unit was engaged in the Battle of the Somme when he was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in action at High Wood on 15 September 1916. Following a further act of gallantry at Eaucourt l'Abbaye on 1 October 1916, details of which are included in his VC citation, Sgt Brown was killed in action.
Victoria Cross not publicly held. Second Victoria Cross (VC) awarded to the NZEF during WWI
Attended Waitaki Boys' High School, Oamaru. AWMM
About death
- Death
- 1 Oct 1916 AWMM
Age 26 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
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- Cause of death
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- Death notes
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- Cemetery
- Warlencourt British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France AWMM III. F. 11. AWMM
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
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- Memorial name
- Victoria Cross commemorative paving stone, National Memorial Aboretum, Staffordshire, EnglandPublic - Sarndra - Researcher - 29 November 2015 - personal visit
- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
- Dunedin, Victoria Cross winners' plaque, Queens Gardens, Dunedin, New Zealand AWMM
- Waitaki Boys' High School Roll of Honour WWI 1914-1918 AWMM
Sources
- External links
- New Zealand Electronic Text Collection topic page
http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/name-418759.html
Further Reference - Portrait. National Collection of War Art. Archives New Zealand
http://warart.archives.govt.nz/node/306
Further Reference - Ministry for Culture and Heritage, New Zealand History online. Dunedin RSA building, formerly site of the VC winners' plaque.
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/memorial/dunedin-rsa-war-memorial
Further Reference - Birkenhead (Auckland) Returned Services Association website. Victoria Cross.
http://www.birkenheadrsa.com/victoria-cross.html
Further Reference - A Street Near You record
https://astreetnearyou.org/person/240896/-
Further Reference - Commonwealth War Graves Commission Casualty record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/240896
Further Reference - Wikidata Entity
http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5294371
Further Reference - London Gazette
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30130/supplement/5866
Further Reference
- New Zealand Electronic Text Collection topic page
- References
- McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers.
- Harper, G., & Richardson, C. (2006). In the face of the enemy: The complete history of the Victoria Cross and New Zealand. Auckland, N.Z.: HarperCollins NZ.
- The Register of the Victoria Cross. (1997). (3rd ed.). Cheltenham, England: This England.
- New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1917). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume II. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
21: 28 - Chronicles of the N.Z.E.F.: Records of Matters Concerning the Troops and Gazette of Patriotic Effort [London, England] : New Zealand War Contingent Association, [1916-1919]
Chronicles of the N.Z.E.F. 17.6.1917 - RSA review: the official journal of the N.Z. Returned Services' Association
1929, page 4 - RSA review: the official journal of the N.Z. Returned Services' Association
August 1969, page 6 - Byrne, A. E. Official History of the Otago Regiment, NZEF in the Great War, 1914–1918. Dunedin: J. Wilkie, 1921.
(1921), page 399 - Harper, G., & Richardson, C. (2006). In the face of the enemy: The complete history of the Victoria Cross and New Zealand. Auckland, N.Z.: HarperCollins NZ.
pp. 97-100 - The Register of the Victoria Cross. (1997). (3rd ed.). Cheltenham, England: This England.
p. 40 - Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications
Vol. 1: Includes portrait - Byrne, A. E. Official History of the Otago Regiment, NZEF in the Great War, 1914–1918. Dunedin: J. Wilkie, 1921.
- McDonald, K. C. (1958). A history of Waitaki Boys’ High School, 1883-1958. Christchurch [N.Z.] : Whitcombe and Tombs.
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