Abe Brown
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Abel, known as Abe, was the son of Samuel and Eliza Brown (née Goodall). His father Samuel was born in Eastwood in 1849, the son of Joseph and Hannah Brown (née Cooke m. 1844). Samuel was baptised at Eastwood St Mary in November 1849. His mother Eliza Goodall was born in Eastwood in 1850 and was the daughter of Henry Goodall, a tailor, and his wife Hannah. Eliza was also baptised at Eastwood St Mary (April 1850). Samuel and Eliza were married in March 1868 (reg. Basford) and had at least eight children who were all born in Eastwood: Hannah Elizabeth b. 1872, Emma Gertrude b. abt. 1875, Walter birth registered 1878 (J/F/M), Abel (sic) birth registered 1881 (J/F/M), Sarah Ann birth registered 1884 (J/F/M), Berness b. 1886, Frederick (Fred) b. 1888 and Edward b. abt. 1881. Hannah, Emma, Walter and Abel were baptised at Eastwood St Mary, Abel on 27 February 1881. Samuel, a coal miner, Eliza and their four children, Hannah, Emma, Walter and Abel, were living at 6 Queen Street, Eastwood, in 1881. Also in the household were Samuel's brother, Abel Brown a coal miner, and Eliza's widowed mother, Hannah Goodall. The family was still living at the same address in 1891. At the time of the 1901 Census, Samuel, a coal miner contractor, was recorded in the family home on Queen Street, with five of his children: Abel a coal miner contractor, Sarah, Berness, Fred and Edward who had been born in 1891 after the date of the census. Samuel's wife was recorded in the home of their married son Walter, his wife Clara (née Hingley m. 1898) and their young son, who also lived on Queen Street. Their daughter Emma had married Alfred Rowley, a coal miner contractor, in 1894 and they and their three children were living at Breach Cottages, Eastwood. The eldest daughter, Hannah, has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census, but there is a record of the baptism at Eastwood St Mary in March 1886 of a George Henry Brown, mother Hannah Elizabeth Brown, residence Eastwood. Samuel Brown died in 1903 (reg. J/F/M Basford). His widow Eliza has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census, nor do her details relate to a registration of death (Basford) before this date. Abel, a colliery labourer, was living at 14 Parkside, Eastwood, a boarder in the household of a fellow colliery labourer, John Pye and his family. His married sister Emma Rowley was living with her husband, a coal miner hewer, and their seven children at 17 Queen's Square, Eastwood. Walter, a coal miner contractor, his wife and their four children were living at Lynn Croft, Greasley. Sarah had married Edward Wright, a coal miner, in 1903 and they together with Sarah's brother Fred Brown, a coal miner hewer, were living at Mount Pleasant, Hill Top, Eastwood. The youngest daughter, Burness, had married in 1904. Neither Hannah nor Edward have yet been traced on the 1911 Census, although there is a record of the marriage of a Hannah Elizabeth Brown in 1909 (reg. Basford, either Neale or Booth).
The 7th (Service) Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps was raised at Winchester on 19 August 1914 as part of Kitchener’s First New Army. Attached to 41st Brigade, 14th (Light) Division. The Battalion landed in Boulogne on 19 May 1915 for service on the Western Front. Rifleman Abe Brown enlisted in Nottingham. He disembarked France on 21 April 1915 and the following month was wounded in the neck resulting in several months' convalescence. He was killed in action on 18 May 1916 and is buried in Maroeuil British Cemetery, France (grave ref. II.E.3). Abel qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Maroeuil British Cemetery (extract): The village of Maroeuil is 6km from the town of Arras. 'The cemetery was begun by the 51st (Highland) Division when Commonwealth forces took over the Arras front in March 1916 and it retained its association with that division until the summer of 1918. Almost half of the graves are those of Highland territorials and many of those remaining are of London territorials who were at Maroeuil from July to December 1916. The cemetery also contains the graves of 25 officers and men of tunnelling companies of the Royal Engineers who died in mine explosions. The cemetery was protected from observation by the crest of the hill behind it and whenever possible, bodies were brought back to it from the front line by tramway.' (www.cwgc.org)
His brother Fred also served in the war and was wounded (also in the neck) in early July 1916. Eastwood & Kimberley Advertiser, 2 June 1916: ‘The sad news of this soldier’s death has been conveyed to the family by his commanding officer in the following terms: ‘It is with great regret that I am writing to tell you that your brother, Rifleman A Brown, was killed yesterday (May 18th). He was a very good soldier and will be a great loss to me and my Company. I trust it will be of some consolation to you to know that he died doing his duty, and that his death was quite instantaneous. Yours truly, Edward Fairlie, Captain.’ CWGC 1580647. Major Edward Fairlie 7th Bn attd. 17th Bn. King’s Royal Rifle Corps, died 30 March 1918 age 36. Pozieres Memorial, France. ‘Son of the late William Fairlie, J.P., D.L., of Holms, Ayrshire; husband of Marjorie Fairlie, of 45, St. George's Rd., Westminster, London. Joined the Inns of Court O.T.C. Aug., 1914. Went to France May, 1915’. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: His legatees were his brother Walter and married sister Emma Rowley.
