Albert Brown
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Albert was born about 1887, the son of Francis Joseph and Emma Brown. In 1891 his parents were living in the parish of St Nicholas at 8 Holden Square, St James's Street, Nottingham, with their three children, Francis (6), Albert (3) and Mabel (1). Francis senior was a house painter. By the time of the 1901 census they had moved to 7 Holden Square. Francis jnr. and Albert were both now working, Mabel was at school and there was a second daughter, Beatrice, who was 10 years old. Sadly, Beatrice probably died in 1906, a death indicated on the 1911 census where it is recorded that Emma had had three children who had died, and in the absence of Beatrice's name in the list of her brother's legatees. Albert's father, Francis, died in 1908, when he was about 48 years old. By 1911 his widow Emma was employed as a servant and working and living at 54 St James Street; the head of the household was another widow, Harriett Whitby (55), whose occupation was given as butcher. Albert's sister, Mabel, had married by 1915, surname Brooks.
Albert qualified for the 1914 Star, being in theatre on 13 August 1914. This suggests that he was a reservist who was either in the Army Reserve and thus mobilised on the outbreak of war, or in the Territorial Force and an early volunteer. Albert was killed in the Neuve Chappelle offensive on 12 March 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Probable identity. The census and military records were linked through the information in the two obituaries which appeared in the local paper; all or some of the family lived in the parish of St Nicholas from at least 1891 until 1911 and probably up to1915. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 9 April 1915: ‘Brown. Killed in action , March 12th, at Neuve Chapelle, Private Albert Brown, 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers, aged 27 years, the beloved son of Emma Brown, 15 Orchard-street, late of St. James’s-street. He died a hero doing his duty for King and country. Sadly missed by his loving mother, brother and sisters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 15 May 1916: ‘Brown. In loving remembrance of my dear chum, Albert (Topper) Brown, 1st NF, who nobly fell at Neuve Chapelle, March 12th, 1915. Brave Fusilier, nobly done was your duty. Farewell, dear old chum; I’m still avenging thy death. Tom Tudor (Salonika Force).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Soldiers’ effects: payments paid from (1915) credits (£6 2s 4d and £3 1s 1d) and (1919) War Gratuity (£5). 25 June 1915: mother Emma (£3 1s 2d), brother Francis (£3 1s 2d), sister Mrs Mabel Brooks (£3 1s 1d). 16 July 1919: brother Francis (£2 10s), sister Mrs Mabel Brooks (£2 10s).
