Person

Albert Vincent Brown was born in Sunderland on 15 November 1898. His father was William Brown (1867) who worked at the Wearmouth coal mine. His mother was Jane “Jennie” Brown (1873), a native of Sunderland. Alfred was the middle child with two older brothers and two younger sisters. In 1901 the family lived in 10 Albany Street, Sunderland and in 1911 were living in 66 Eglinton Street, Sunderland.

Alfred joined the Royal Navy on 21 February 1914 when he was fifteen years, three months and seven days old. It was his intention to serve for 12 years commencing on his 18th birthday in 1916. He was described as a pit boy on his service record. He was a quarter of an inch over five foot tall with a 31 inch chest. He had brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion but no distinguishing scars or other marks. He was given the initial rating of boy 2nd class with the service number J29605. He travelled to HMS Ganges the shore establishment for training boys at Shotley, Suffolk where he spent eight months. On completion of his time at Ganges he was promoted to boy 1st class on 29 October 1914.

Alfred’s seagoing service started on 11 December 1914 when he joined the crew of HMS Clan MacNaughton. This was a pre-war merchant ship requisitioned by the Royal Navy in November 1914. She was converted to a warship via the addition of guns on deck and sailed for patrol duties in the North Atlantic a few days before Christmas 1914. On the morning of 3 February 1915 she was in radio contact and reported terrible weather conditions off the north west coast of Scotland. Nothing more was ever heard from her and she was lost with all 281 members of her crew.

Alfred was sixteen years , two months and twenty days old when he died. His body was not recovered for burial. He is honoured nationally on the Chatham Naval Memorial and in Sunderland on a plaque at All Saints Church, Monkwearmouth.

Alfred Vincent Brown was awarded the Star, the Victory Medal and British War Medal for his service in World War One.

Civil Parish: Sunderland

Birth date: 15-Nov-1898

Death date: 03-Feb-1915

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 10 Albany Street, Sunderland (1901 census)
66 Eglinton Street, Sunderland (1911census)

Employment: Pit boy (1914, Royal Navy service record)

Family: Parents: William Brown (1867), Jane “Jenny” Brown
Siblings: William Brown, Thomas Brown, Isabella Brown, Hilda Brown

Military service:

J29605
Boy 2nd class, 21 February 1914
Boy 1st class, 29 October 1914
HMS Ganges, 21 February 1914 - 29 October 1914
HMS Pembroke I, 30 October 1914 - 10 December 1914
HMS Clan MacNaughton, 11 December 1914 - 3 February 1915

Medal(s): Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Chatham Naval Memorial
Plaque Parish 1914-18, All Saints Church, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham