William Brown
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William Brown was born in 1897 at Newark and was the son William a plaster mill labourer and Sarah Ann Brown née Harmston, of 7 Lawrence Place, Newark, Nottinghamshire His father William was born in 1864 at Cambridge and his mother Sarah Ann Harmston was born in 1870 at Newark, they were married in 1894 at Newark, they had a further son Percy born 1899 also at Newark. In the 1911 census the family are living at 7 Lawrence Place, Newark and are shown as William 47 yrs a plaster mill labourer, he is living with his wife Sarah Ann 41 yrs and their children, William 14 yrs a painter at brewery and Percy 12 yrs a scholar.
Private William Brown enlisted on 26th November 1914 at Newark into the 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment and went to France 28th June 1915. He suffered a shrapnel wound to his shoulder 1st July 1916 at Gommecourt on the 1st day of the Battle of the Somme and was admitted to the 2nd General Hospital, Le Havre, France, 2nd July 1916. He was then transferred to England, 3rd July 1916. He returned to France 8th December 1916 and was posted the 1/5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment, 22nd December 1916. He suffered Shrapnel wounds to his back and left arm 13th February 1917 and died of these wounds at the 8th General Hospital at Wimereux, France, 11th March 1917. He is buried at Wimereux Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
Article published 28th March 1917 in the Newark Advertiser :- Son of William & Sarah Ann Brown, 7 Lawrence Place, Newark. Home in Nov. 1915 with frostbite. Wounded on 1st July 1916 with shrapnel, going out to France again on 15th Dec 1916. Hit in his back into chest and several smaller wounds. Died at base hospital
