Joseph William Brown

Navy, Registered War Grave

Joseph William Brown
Able Seaman J/19639 H.M.S. Vernon
Royal Navy

 Division 61

BROWN JW CIMG2223 alternative mem 2

Joseph William Brown, was the son of Mr Joseph A. and Ellen Brown, of 1, Argyle Street, Reading. He died on January 21st 1917 aged 20, as a result of an operation for appendicitis.

 Joseph William Brown  is buried in a registered war grave number 12923 and this is marked with kerb stones.  Joseph Brown’s name also appears on a special memorial in the War Plot, due to the fact that his grave was lost in the late 1980’s.

 

24th October 1999

Ernest A Brown and William Frederick Brown

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Passchendaele, Royal Berkshire Regiment, Somme, Ypres

Ernest A. Brown
Corporal 203874
2nd Battalion Oxford & Bucks. Light Infantry

William Frederick Brown
Private 201425
5th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regt.

 Division 15

 Brown EA and WF photo

 Ernest and William Brown are pictured with their brother in Berkshire and The War.  Gunner L. H. Brown, served with the Machine Gun Corps.,  he probably survived the war.  Ernest and Frederick are commemorated on the headstone of the grave of their grandfather.  They were the sons of William J. and Ellen Brown, 651, Oxford Rd. Reading. 

CIMG2187

 

 The Standard September 15th 1917 printed the notification of the death of Ernest Brown. He was killed  during the 3rd Battle of Ypres.

“In everlasting memory of my dear husband, Corporal. E. A. Brown, Oxford and Bucks. Light Infantry killed in action August 16th 1917.”   

 Oh, how I longed to see him
After victory won,
But God thought it best to take him
Before the fight was won.
Sleep on dear Ern, in your lonely grave,
A grave I may never see,
But as long as life and memory last
I will remember thee.” 

Ernest Brown is buried in New Irish Farm Cemetery, Location XI.F.13.

 Frederick’s wife Francis Violet Brown posted the notification of his death.  Her address was given as 31 Manchester Rd., Reading.   Frederick was killed in action, on the 5th April 1918.  His death occurred  during the Battle of Albert, he was aged 28.  At the time the British were being driven back by the Germans who had launched their major offensive in the spring. 

No loving friends stood round his bed,
No loving mother closed his eyes,
No roof above his brave young head,
Only France’s cloudy skies;
No bell to toll the mournful tale,
With sad but kindly tone,
But we know he’s gone to a better vale,
His Heavenly Father’s throne.

 William Brown has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial Panel 56 & 57.

 

Arthur John Bunce

Army, Registered War Grave, Royal Berkshire Regiment

Arthur John Bunce
Corporal 8072
2nd Batt. Royal Berkshire Regt.

War Plot
Divisions 71 and 72

Bunce AJ photo

Arthur Bunce was the son of Mr and Mrs Alfred Bunce of 43, Alma St., Reading, and husband of Mrs F. D. Bunce of 12, Pell Street, Reading.   He died of wounds at the Reading War Hospital on 21st October 1918 aged 33.  He had been attached to the 8th Batt. Royal Berkshire Regt. Arthur Bunce has no headstone in the War plot but his name is commemorated upon the screen wall.

 The author has found only a little information about the military career of Arthur Bunce.  A report in the Standard 21st November 1914, states that he had been wounded in the stomach and severely bruised and taken to St. Nazaire Hospital on September 26th 1914.  At the time it is more likely that he was serving with the 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment, rather than the 2nd as they were on their way back from India.  The 1st Battalion had been in action at the Aisne, with heavy fighting and many casualties in the period between the 15th and 21st September. After a period of convalescence he returned to active service.

We next hear of him in a report from the Chronicle where he had again been wounded and was possibly recounting the attack during the Battle of Festubert.  When he received the wounds from which he died is unknown.  However, in the late summer of 1918 the 8th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regt. were part of the allied offensive in the area of the Somme, chasing the Germans back over the ground which had been so hard won in 1916 and so easily lost in the spring.