Francis Birmingham BROWN

Francis Birmingham BROWN

Per his military service record (Depot), Francis Birmingham Brown was born in Jerilderie, N.S.W.[1]  He gave his age as 44 years and 2 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer.  His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 5 inches tall, weight 143 lbs., with a fair complexion, grey eyes, and ‘brown going grey’ hair.  His religious denomination was Roman Catholic.  He claimed to have 5 weeks previous military service at Rosehill in 1914 but was allowed to leave after he ‘complained’ that the ‘physical drill affected’ him.

His next of kin was recorded on his Australian Imperial Force Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad form as Thomas Brown, Jerilderie N.S.W.

He joined the Coo-ees at Wellington.[2] He completed his medical examination at Wellington on 16^th October 1915 (the day the Coo-ees arrived at Wellington).  He was attested at by Captain T. A. Nicholas at Stuart Town on 20^th October 1915 (the day the Coo-ees marched from Stuart Town to Euchareena).

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13^th Battalion.

His Statement of Service records that he served at the Infantry Depot at Liverpool until 9^th January  1916 when he deserted from Liverpool Camp.  (Fellow Coo-ee Private Sloey from Wellington also deserted from Liverpool Camp on the same day.)

A warrant was issued for his arrest on 15^th February 1916.

The Wellington Times reported on 7^th April 1919 that ‘the death took place this morning at Wellington Hospital of Francis Brown, at the age of 50 years’, and that ‘he joined the Coo-ees when they came through Wellington, but was afterwards discharged as medically unfit’.[3]

The warrant for his arrest was withdrawn on 30^th January 1919. His record is stamped ‘Discharged prior to leaving Australia’.

[1] NAA: B2455, BROWN F B

[2] NAA: B2455, BROWN F B

[3] OBITUARY. (1919, April 7). Wellington Times (NSW : 1899 – 1954), p. 2. Retrieved October 28, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143232113