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Cenotaph record

Donald Forrester Brown

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Portrait, Auckland Weekly News 1917 - No known copyright restrictions

Portrait, Auckland Weekly News 1917 - No known copyright restrictions

Identity

About

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  • 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

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    23 February 1890 AWMM Dunedin, Otago AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    WW1 Pre 19 October 1915 AWMM Totara Block, Oamaru, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW1 Mrs R. Brown (mother), Polytechnic, Thames Street, Oamaru, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Pre 8 January 1916 AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
  • Campaign
    • 1914-1919 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

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  • 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

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW1 19 October 1915 AWMM
    Age 25 AWMM
    Farmer/Civilian AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • 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

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • 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 AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    1 October 1916 AWMM
    Age 26 AWMM
    Flers, France AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Warlencourt British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France AWMM III. F. 11. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
    Victoria Cross commemorative paving stone, National Memorial Aboretum, Staffordshire, England Public - Sarndra - Researcher - 29 November 2015 - personal visit
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    Dunedin, Victoria Cross winners' plaque, Queens Gardens, Dunedin, New Zealand AWMM

Roll of Honour

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Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Donald Forrester Brown

Leave a note

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  • Donald you were always there when I need you. Your service has amazed all of us. You were a great sergeant as well as a friend. -Commemorating Sergeant Donald Forrester Brown.
    Public - Chelsea - 20 April 2015
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • 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. AWMM
    • 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. AWMM
    • The Register of the Victoria Cross. (1997). (3rd ed.). Cheltenham, England: This England. AWMM
    • New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1917). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume II. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      21: 28 AWMM
    • Chronicles of the N.Z.E.F. AWMM
      Chronicles of the N.Z.E.F. 17.6.1917 AWMM
    • RSA review: the official journal of the N.Z. Returned Services' Association AWMM
      1929, page 4 AWMM
    • RSA review: the official journal of the N.Z. Returned Services' Association AWMM
      August 1969, page 6 AWMM
    • Official History of the Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F. in the Great War 1914-1918 AWMM
      (1921), page 399 AWMM
    • 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. AWMM
      pp. 97-100 AWMM
    • The Register of the Victoria Cross. (1997). (3rd ed.). Cheltenham, England: This England. AWMM
      p. 40 AWMM
    • Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications AWMM
      Vol. 1: Includes portrait AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
03 February 2018GeoffreyTilbury, EnglandResearcher
29 November 2015SarndraAuckland, New ZealandResearcher
24 July 2015Lorraine MGisborne, NZResearcher
20 April 2015Chelsea AucklandOther

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