Name
Arthur Joseph Brown
1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/04/1917
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14949
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Baldock Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock, St Margaret's Church Memorial, Bygrave, Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
Arthur Joseph Brown was born in 1884 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, the eldest son of Benjamin and Ada Brown, of Bygrave, Baldock, Herts. He was one of six children, but two died in infancy.
On the 1901 Census the family were living in the village of Newnham, Herts, where his father was working as a stockman on a farm. Present were both parents: Benjamin (31) and Ada (29). Their children were: Arthur Joseph (7), Ernest Charles (5) and Bertie (4).
By 1911 they had moved to New Cottages, Bygrave, and Arthur was working as a labourer on a farm. His father and brothers Ernest and Bertie were also farm labourers. His new and youngest brother Frank was at school. Both his grandparents, Charles and Elizabeth Brown were present.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War (SDITGW) database records that he was born in Hitchin, Herts. and was living in Bygrave when he enlisted in Royston, Herts.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Royston, Herts, and served with the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment in France from 9 April 1915.
He was killed in action on 23 April 1917 during the Battle of Arras. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.
The Hertfordshire Express reported in an article of 9 June 1917 that Mr and Mrs Brown had received a letter containing the sad news of Arthur's death, their eldest son.
J. P. Kingdon, an officer of the Beds. Regiment, wrote: "It is with the greatest sorrow that I have to inform you that your son, Private A. T. Brown, is reported killed in action. Your son was Lewis gunner, and so came under my notice. He was a keen soldier and a smart man, and his loss to the battalion is great. How much more then, must you feel it? I can only hope that the thought that he died fighting for his country gallantly to the end, will bring you some consolation in your trouble. I can only add that his loss has affected me personally very greatly, and I hope you will accept my deepest sympathy."
Additional Information
After his death £11 2s 2d pay owing was authorised to go to his mother, Ada, on 30 July 1917. Later a war gratuity of £12 was authorised to be paid to her on 14 October 1919.
Pension cards exist but give no indication if a pension was paid.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners, Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson
