Albert BROWN
Per his military service record (regimental no. 4734), Albert Brown was born at Bellabay, Ireland.[1] He gave his age as 18 years and 2 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as baker. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 6 inches tall, weight 8 stone 10 lbs., with a fair complexion, grey eyes, and dark hair. His religious denomination was recorded as Presbyterian. He claimed that he had 3 years and 4 months previous military service undertaking compulsory training [cadets].
A letter dated 11th November 1915 from his father T. Brown in his service record gave consent for him to enlist.
He completed his medical examination on 11th November 1915 at Parramatta, and was attested by Lieutenant R. Howe at Parramatta on 11th November 1915 (the day the Coo-ees marched from Parramatta to Ashfield).
After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Miller Road, Old Guildford N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as his father, T. Brown, at the same address.[2]
He was one of the soldiers given a farewell at the Elite Hall in Guildford on Thursday 9th December 1915 by the Guildford Patriotic Committee (along with fellow Coo-ee Allan Colquhoun), where they were each presented with a sheepskin vest and money belt.[3]
On 8th March 1916, Private Brown, along with many of the other Coo-ees, departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, with the 15th reinforcements for the 13th Battalion. He arrived in Egypt on the 11th April 1916.
On 16th April 1916 Private Brown was transferred to the 5th Division Cyclist Company at Tel-el-Kebir in Egypt (along with fellow Coo-ees Private Richardson, Private Megarrity, Private Lloyd and Private Spicer).
On 17th June 1916 Private Brown left Alexandria aboard a transport bound for France. He arrived at Marseilles on 25th June 1916.
On 21st April 1917 Private Brown was seconded to the 2nd Cooking School in France.
He re-joined 2nd ANZAC Corps Cyclist Battalion on 5th May 1917. (The 5th Division Cyclist Company had been moved into the Battalion upon its formation in July 1916).
On 22nd July 1917 Private Brown went on leave. He re-joined to the 2nd ANZAC Cyclist Battalion on 6th August 1917.
On 3rd December 1917 Private Brown was detached to the 2nd ANZAC Anti-Aircraft unit. He re-joined the 2nd ANZAC Cyclist Battalion on 9th December 1917.
On 16th January 1918 Private Brown was taken on strength of the Australian Corps Cyclist Battalion.
On 5th June 1918 Private Brown was detached to the Corps Prisoner of War Compound.
On 29th August 1918 he was granted leave to England.
Private Brown re-joined the Australian Corps Cyclist Battalion in France on 15th September 1918.
A Certified Extract of a Marriage Certificate in his service record states that 21 year of Albert Brown, soldier, married 18 year old Regina Anne Joseph Mahien on 23rd April 1919 at Andeslues, Belgium.
On 6th May 1919 Private Brown departed France bound for England, to begin his return to Australia. Private Brown arrived at Southampton on 7th June 1919, and marched into the No. 2 Group the same day.
On 12th July 1919 Private Brown departed England aboard the H.T. Indarra bound for Australia.
He arrived in Sydney on 9th September 1919.
He was discharged medically unfit on 27th December 1919 ‘Disability Not Stated’.
Note: After returning to N.S.W. after the First World War, Albert Brown returned to Belgium to live with his Belgian wife.[4] He became a Prisoner of War in the Second World War, after Germany invaded Poland. He returned to Belgium after the end of that war.
[1] NAA B2455, BROWN A
[2] Australia War Memorial. First World War Embarkation Rolls, Albert Brown, HMAT Star of England A15, 8th March 1916.
[3] FAREWELLING. (1915, December 11). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 – 1950), p. 5. Retrieved March 26, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article86106306
[4] OBITUARY (1941, June 26). The Biz (Fairfield, NSW : 1928 – 1972), p. 2. Retrieved March 26, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article76309000