BROWNING, Allen
| Service Number: | 121 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 December 1915, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 41st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | London, England, 20 July 1897 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Upton Park School, West Ham, England |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 31 May 1954, aged 56 years |
| Cemetery: |
Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens & Crematorium, Queensland Cremation |
| Memorials: | Milton Christ Church Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 121, Brisbane, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 May 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 121, 41st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Demosthenes embarkation_ship_number: A64 public_note: '' | |
| 18 May 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 121, 41st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Demosthenes, Sydney | |
| 20 May 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 121, 41st Infantry Battalion, per HT Nestor | |
| 20 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, 121 |
Help us honour Allen Browning's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Born in 1897 in London England, Allen was the third of six children of Sidney Robert Browning (b1855 in London, England) and second wife Mary Ann Elizabeth Williams (b1864 in London, England). Sidney (a Hairdresser) and Mary (a Grocer) married in 1890 in London where Sidney worked as a Hairdresser and Insurance Agent. In 1914 Mary and her children immigrated, arriving in Sydney NSW on board the Borda. Sidney followed in 1915 on board the Demosthenes and the family settled in Brisbane, QLD where Sidney worked as a Clerk.
Allen was a Labourer when he enlisted in the AIF, serving in France in the 41st Infantry Battalion with his brother Harry, who was KiA in 1918 - 'He died in his brother's arms twenty minutes after (being hit by a shell)' (Australian Red Cross Files; Private Burns). Returning to Brisbane following his Discharge, Allen was working as a House Painter in 1920 when he married Nellie Florence Hopkins (b1898 in Essex, England) - Nellie immigrated with her parents and siblings in 1915, arriving in Brisbane QLD on board the Roscommon. Allen and Nellie settled in Brisbane where Allen worked as a House Painter, Insurance Agent and Union Organiser. Allen and Nellie divorced in the 1930s and Nellie remarried. Allen died in 1954.
Biography
"121 Private Allen Browning, 41st Battalion. Labourer from Brisbane, Qld, Allen and (brother) Henry enlisted together on 22 December 1915. They embarked on 18 May 1916 with A Company, aboard HMAT Demosthenes (A64). On 24 April 1918 Henry was killed by a shell burst during an early morning bombardment at Vaux-Sur-Somme. Reports describe the moment when Henry was hit, standing beside his brother Allen handing out rations at the reserve line near the village of Vaux. Henry was buried at Bonnay Communal Cemetery in France. Allen survived the war and returned to Australia in July 1919." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
"BROWNING, Allen, Stain Street, Wilston, 41st Batt., 1st A.I.F.— The Relatives and Friends of the late Allen Browning are requested to attend his Funeral, to leave the Parlour, 400 Wickham Street, Tomorrow (Wednesday), at 10 a.m., for Mt. Thompson Crematorium. No flowers, by request..." - from the Courier Mail 01 Jun 1954 (nla.gov.au)
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