Percy George BROWN

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4446), Percy George Brown was born on 27^th July 1894 at Westham, England. He gave his age as 21 years and 3 months, his marital status as single and his occupation as labourer. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 7 inches tall, weight 148 lbs., with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He claimed that he had 18 months previous military service in the 1^st C. B. Kings Royal Rifles. He completed his medical on the 16^th October 1915 at Wellington, and was attested by Captain Nicholas at Dripstone on the 19^th October 1915.

Percy George Brown was named as being one of the Wongarbon recruits in the Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate.[1]

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

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was not listed, and his next of kin is listed as his father, C. H. [Charles Henry] Brown, 81 Corporation Street, West Ham, London, England. (The address he gave on his Application to Enlist in the Australian Imperial Force form addressed to the Recruiting Officer at Dubbo was ‘Box 5, Cunnamulla Qld).’

Just before Private Brown embarked, it was reported in the Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate that he had written “The first batch of the Gilgandra “Coo-ees” to leave for the front will sail at the end of the present week. About 15 men, including four who enlisted at Dubbo, have been transferred into an earlier reinforcement of the same battalion, which the rest of the “Coo-ees” are in”.[2]

On 16^th February 1916 Private Brown was one of this first group of Coo-ees to embark overseas, and departed Sydney on the HMAT Ballarat A70 as 14^th reinforcement for the 13^th Battalion, which arrived in Egypt on the 22^nd March 1916.

On the 1^st April 1916 he was transferred to the 54^th Battalion at Ferry Post.

On 3^rd April 1916 he was admitted to the 1^st Field Ambulance, then moved to the 2^nd Casualty Clearance Station at Ismailia with defective vision. On 4^th April 1916 he was admitted to the 1^st Australian Stationary Hospital with Myopia. On 9^th April 1916 he returned to his unit.

On 2^nd June 1916 he was admitted to the 1^st Australian Stationary Hospital with defective vision. On 8^th June he was transferred to the Training Battalion at Alexandria.

On 6^th August 1916 Private Brown left Alexandria aboard His Majesty’s Transport Megantic, bound for England. On 1^st December 1916 he marched into the 4^th Training Battalion at Codford.

On 31^st December 1916 he departed Folkestone aboard the transport Princess Henrietta for France. He marched into the 5^th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples on 1^st January 1917.

On 6^th February 1917 Private Brown marched out of the Base Depot and on 8^th February 1917. He was taken on strength of the 54^th Battalion when it was manning the front line near Longueval France. On 24^th February 1917 he was admitted to the 13^th Australian Field Ambulance for eye treatment. He rejoined his Battalion on 25^th February 1917.

On 4^th April 1917 Private Brown was sent to hospital sick. On 20^th April 1917 he was admitted to the 11^th Stationary Hospital at Rouen with Influenza. On 24^th April 1917 he was sent to the 2^nd Convalescent Depot. On 1^st May 1917 he was transferred to the 11^th Convalescent Depot. On 29^th July 1917 he was transferred to the 5^th Australian Division Base Depot at Le Harve. He rejoined the 54^th Battalion on 18^th August 1917 when it was refitting and training at Renescure, France.

On 18^th October 1917 Private Brown was admitted to the 8^th Field Ambulance with debility. He was sent to the 5^th Division Rest Station that same day. On the 30^th of October 1917 he was sent to the 50^th Casualty Clearing Station. On the 4^th of November 1917 he was transferred to the 6^th General Hospital at Rouen with Bronchitis. On the 8^th of November 1917 he was transferred to the 2^nd Convalescent Depot, then on 11^th November 1917 he was sent to the 11^th Convalescent Depot. On 30^th January 1918 he marched into the 5^th Division Base Depot at Le Harve. On 20^th February 1918 he returned to the 54^th Battalion when it was in the front line near Wijtschate, Belgium.

On 26^th February 1918 Private Brown went on leave to the United Kingdom. He returned to the Battalion on 15^th March 1918 when it was in reserve near Dranoutre, Belgium.

On 24^th April 1918 Private Brown was with the 54^th Battalion when it defending the vicinity of Villers Bretonneux, France. The Germans launched an attack on the Battalion which included the use of gas shells. The attack was repulsed with heavy casualties suffered by the Germans. The 54^th Battalion suffered 3 men killed, 10 wounded, and 28 gassed. Private Brown was amongst those gassed. He was evacuated to the 14^th Australian Field Ambulance then moved to the 61^st Casualty Clearing Station. On 25^th April he was sent to the 10^th General Hospital at Rouen, then on 28^th April to the 73^rd General Hospital at Trouville, France. On 13^th June 1918 he was transferred to the 1^st Australian Convalescent Depot at Le Harve. On 3^rd August 1918 he marched into the 5^th Australian Division Base Depot.

On 13^th August 1918 he rejoined the 54^th Battalion when it was at Fuilloy, France, preparing to move back into the line.

On 27^th September 1918 Private Brown was admitted to the 14^th Australian Field Ambulance sick. On 28^th September 1918 he was moved back to the 20^th Casualty Clearing Station. On 29^th September 1918 he was transferred to the 3^rd Stationary Hospital at Rouen. On 30^th September 1918 he was transferred to the 2^nd Convalescent Depot. On 1^st October 1918 he was moved to the 6^th General Hospital. On 4^th October 1918 he was evacuated to England, arriving at the 2^nd Western General Hospital in Manchester on 5^th October 1918. On 13^th November 1918 he was transferred to the 3^rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. On 25^th November 1918 he moved to the 2^nd Convalescent Depot at Weymouth.

On 9^th December 1918 Private Brown departed England for return to Australia aboard HT Argyllshire.

He arrived in Australia on 14^th February 1919, and was discharged on 10^th October 1919.

Private Brown’s return to Australia was reported as follows in The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate: “Recently returned from the front, after three years of active service, Private P. G. Brown. He joined up with “The Coo-ees” at Wongarbon early in October, 1915. He has seen service in Egypt and France, and was wounded and gassed. His many friends in Wongarbon and district will be pleased to hear of his safe return”.[3]

[1] ‘Our Soldiers’, The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, 29 October 1915, p. 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77601711

[2] ‘Our Soldiers’, The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, 4 February 1916, p. 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77604424

[3] ‘Personal Notes’, The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, 7 March 1919, p. 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75636042