Name
Charlie Brown
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/05/1918
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
88927
Machine Gun Corps
“D” Company 29th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CINQ RUES BRITISH CEMETERY, HAZEBROUCK
C.12
France
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial
St. Mary’s Church Memorial, Rickmansworth
Oddfellows Memorial, Rickmansworth
Pre War
Charlie was born in Rickmansworth in 1884 the son of Charles and Hannah Brown. They are thought to be Charles Cowderey Brown and Hannah (nee Bonnet) who married 20th February 1876 in Rickmansworth. In 1881 they were in Church Street, Rickmansworth with children Annie age 4 and Arthur age 3; Charles was a Baker and China Dealer. He died in 1884. By 1891 Hannah, a widow living on own means, was in Talbot Road, Rickmansworth with Charlie and his two sisters Annie 14 and Essie 8. Arthur had died towards the end of 1881. In 1901 they were in Rickmansworth High Street and Charlie age 17 was a Grocer’s Assistant as he was in 1911. At death he was living in Milton, Berkshire, but what he was doing there is not known.
Recorded as enlisting in Gravesend, Kent.
Wartime Service
Formerly 27415 Norfolk Regiment. Extracts from the War Diary 1st May to 31st May 1918 of 29th Battalion Machine Gun Corps operating in the La Motte area -1/2 May Heavy gas shelling of Bois d’Avez and roads round La Motte 3 May 'D' Co relieved 'A' Co in the forward area; relief achieved without incident 4 May Preparation for a raid by 89th Brigade on the left Brigade side 5 May 4.15 am the Border Regiment raided the enemy lines; 3 prisoners and a light MG captured.
The raiders lost an officer (killed) and 3 OR (wounded). The machine guns assisted the raid by firing on selected points and putting down a protective barrage in front of the raiders There is no mention of casualties in 'D' Company so the circumstances of Charlie's death remain a mystery.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Mike Collins
