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John Thomas Brown (1890-1915)


Sacriston man served with 1st/8th Durham Light Infantry killed at Ypres


John T Brown was born in Edmondsley in 1890. His father, Robert, was a general labourer who was born in Norwich in 1845; his mother, Martha (nee Cory), was born in Aylsham, Norfolk in 1856. In 1901 John had four brothers and two sisters and the family lived in Daisy Hill before moving to Plawsworth, where, by 1911, Martha was widowed.

John enlisted in the 1st/8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry and arrived in France on 19 April 1915. Two months later, he was reported missing and was later confirmed killed in action. His name is listed on the German War Office record, published on the Red Cross website, of those who had been killed between 26 April and 26 June 1915 and was buried in a mass grave east of Ypres, between Bellewaarde and Poel-Capelle.

The Chester-le-Street Chronicle of 22 September 1916 reported that his mother, who was at that time living in First Cross Street, had been contacted by the War Office to provide them with details of his name, rank and number which resulted in ‘Many absurd rumours……but they are all untrue.’; evidenced by the record of Soldier’s Effects which shows that on the 25 January 1916 Martha was named the recipient of John’s effects; £3-4-3d and on 25-Aug-1915 she was due a further payment of £3-0-0d. Her son was 24 when he was killed in action.

This article appeared in the Chester le Street Chronicle, 22 September 1916:

DAME RUMOUR

Mrs. Brown of First Cross Street, Sacriston, whose son went to France with the 8th D.L.I., in April, 1915, and who was reported to be missing, presumed, as a result of the first engagement in which the Battalion took part, has received a letter from the War Office asking to be furnished with particulars respecting the name, rank, and number of her son. Many absurd rumours have arisen in consequence of this, but they are all untrue. Mrs. Brown has no further information.

Durham at War blog on 8th DLI at the Battle of Ypres:
http://ww1countydurham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-second-battle-of-ypres-8th.html

Civil Parish: Witton Gilbert

Birth date: 1890

Death date: 26-Jun-1915

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Daisy Hill, Edmondsley (1891 census)
East House, Plawsworth, Sacriston (1901 and 1911 censuses)
First Cross Street, Sacriston (1916 Chester-le-Street Chronicle)

Employment: Coke Yard Labourer

Family: Parents: Robert Brown, Martha Brown (nee Cory)
Siblings: Henry E Brown (b1875), Robert Oliver Brown (b1877), Susannah Brown (b 1880), George William (b1884), James Brown (b1887)

Military service:

2773
Private
1st/8th Durham Light Infantry

Medal(s): 1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal

Memorial(s): Menin Gate
Book of Remembrance Durham Cathedral
Sacriston War Memorial Plaque

Gender: Male

Contributed by Sacriston Heritage Group | Durham County Record Office: Interns | Maragaret Eason

Comments on this story


Comment

A piece in the Chester-le-Street Chronicle has his older brother Robert given a conditional exemption from call-up when he mentions his 3 brothers fighting in France, one of whom had died there. The edition is dates 20 April 1917 and can be found in the British Newspaper Archive. My question is do you have information on his brothers at "Durham At War"? The article does not say which of Henry, James or George were in the army in France. I would like to know about them. Many thanks, Richard Huggett

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hertford123

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