Name
Horace Brown
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/03/1916
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
1048
Royal Inniskillen Fusiliers
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WATFORD CEMETERY
Plot B, Row 2, Grave 116.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour (*1),
Redbourn Town Memorial,
St Mary's Church Memorial, Redbourn,
The Common Commemorative Panel, South aisle, St Mary's Church, Redbourn
Pre War
Son of Elizabeth (formerly BROWN, nee COLLINS) SINFIELD and the late George BROWN; husband of Lucy (nee OWERS) BROWN of Chelmsford, Essex.
His parents married 12 September 1874 at St Mary’s, Redbourn, Herts. George died 1890 in Redbourn aged 40, and was buried 25 September at St Mary’s, Redbourn. Elizabeth remarried 25 January 1902 at St Mary’s, Redbourn, to Walter SINFIELD. Walter died 5 January 1940 in Redbourn aged 68, and was buried 10 January at St Mary’s, Redbourn; Elizabeth died 24 December 1943 [sic] in Redbourn aged 88, and was buried 23 December [sic], also at St Mary’s, Redbourn.
Horace was born 1890 in Church End, Redbourn, and baptised 5 October 1890 at St Mary’s, Redbourn. He married 7 June 1915 at St Mary’s, Watford; they had two children. He died in Watford, and was buried 25 March.
On the 1891 Census, aged 2 he lived in Redbourn, with his widowed mother and seven siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 11 he still lived in Redbourn, with his widowed mother and two siblings.
On the 1911 Census, a Private in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers aged 23, he was stationed in Tientsin, North China.
He originally enlisted in London 11 June 1906 in the Royal Inniskillen Fusiliers, no. 8596: a stableman aged 19, 5’6″ tall, C of E. He joined the regiment in Omagh 15 June 1906 and served at home until 12 February 1907. He then served in Crete 13 February 1907 to 25 February 1908, in Malta 26 February 1908 to 22 September 1909, in China 23 September 1909 to 21 December 1912, and was transferred to the Army Reserve 3 December 1912.
Wartime Service
He was re-mobilised at Omagh 6 August 1914 and served with the B.E.F. until 28 April 1915, during which time he transferred to the Army Cyclists’ Corps 1 December 1914, Private 1048.
He was at home 29 April 1915 until 14 October 1915 when he was discharged as no longer physically fit for War Service, owing to TB, the medical board report stated that the condition may be regarded as due to war service.
He was discharged at Hounslow: a stableman aged 26, 5’7″ tall. He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 29 August 1914, but does not appear to have a Silver War Badge. He died of tuberculosis at home five months later.
Additional Information
*1 There is an H Brown listed in the Watford Roll of Honour and an Horace J Brown on the St John's Church Memorial, Watford, because of the difference in the initials we have listed them separately but it is possible they are one and the same man.
There is an article about Horace in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 1 April 1916, and an In Memoriam in the issue dated 23 March 1918.
Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War.
He does appear to have an entry on the Soldiers Died in the Great War Dataset.
His brother Solomon died 13 September 1914 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
Horace us buried in a non-CWGC grave.
Acknowledgments
Gareth Hughes, Malcolm Lennox, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
