Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From the Australian Remembrance Army

Charles Brown
Service No: 17240
Rank: Private
Unit: 3rd Field Ambulance

Our group of volunteers recently had the honour and privilege of restoring the lettering to the large granite slabs upon the graves of Private Charles Brown and his wife Elizabeth, and the adjoining grave of his brother Henry William Brown and sister-in-law Ellen. We even had an inquisitive magpie overseeing our work from the top of a nearby monument. We thank Brisbane City Council for their continued support and permission to carry out these restorations throughout BCC managed cemeteries in the Brisbane area.

Charles Brown was born in 1875 in Hotham, Victoria to parents Mary Sarah Woodford and James Brown. He was the sixth of nine children and had one sister named Mary Ann, who sadly died at the age of 5 months. In 1904, at the age of 29 years, Charles married Elizbeth Longmore, and by 1908 the couple had relocated to the Brisbane suburb of Kangaroo Point. They lived briefly with Charles’ brother William Henry, who had moved to Queensland in the 1880s. Charles and Elizabeth moved into a house in the same street, not far from William and his wife Ada, and Charles found employment as a sail/tent maker.

On 19 February 1916, Charles enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force. He embarked at Sydney, New South Wales per HMAT “Hororata” on 14 June 1917, disembarking at Liverpool on 26 August. The following day, he marched in to the Army Medical Corps Training Depot at Parkhouse. Charles proceeded overseas to France on 1 October 1917, marching in to the General Base Depot at Rouelles two days later, and was taken on strength of the 3rd Field Ambulance from reinforcements on 8 October.

The following month on the 2 November, Charles was admitted to the Casualty Clearing Station in Belgium, diagnosed with shell shock. On admission, his condition was described as “dazed, nervous and shaky”. Charles stated that “shells were bursting close around him on the night of Oct 31st" whilst he was on duty at Waggon Loading Post. “This post was heavily shelled at intervals during that time. While he was collecting local casualties, a shell burst near him. This, acting on already overstrained nerves lead to his breaking down”. Charles was transferred to the 26th General Hospital in Etaples on 6 November, before being transferred to the 6th Convalescent Depot the following day.

Charles was discharged from hospital to Base Details on 4 January 1918. He marched out to the 1st Divisional Army Medical Corps on 9th January, rejoining his unit in the field on 11 January 1918. He returned to England on leave on 21 October, returning to rejoin his unit in the field on 7 November. The following year on 24 January 1919, Charles was admitted to the 20th Casualty Clearing Station with an inguinal hernia. He was transferred to the 8th Stationary Hospital two days later, before being transferred to England and admitted to the Fulham Military Hospital in Hammersmith. He was moved to the 1st Australian General Hospital on 5 February and was finally discharged on 19 February. Following discharge, Charles was granted furlough and instructed to report to No 2 Com Depot on 5 March 1919.

On 1 April 1919, Charles embarked from England per “Shropshire” for return to Australia, disembarking at Melbourne, Victoria on 16 May. He was discharged medically unfit in Melbourne on 5 September 1919, stating his disability as “right inguinal hernia and heart strain”.

On his return to Brisbane, following his discharge from service, Charles and Elizabeth moved to a home named “Hastings”, located at Turner Road, Kedron where Charles continued work as a sail/tent maker. Elizabeth passed away in 1927 at the age of 57 years. Charles lived at “Hastings” in Kedron until sometime around 1948, when he is listed as living at 25 Walsh Street, Milton. Charles died on 1 October 1948, aged 73 years. He was buried at Lutwyche Cemetery three days later, interred with his wife, Elizabeth. The executor of Charles’ Will was Benjamin Mondientz – husband of his niece, Eileen Ruby Brown (daughter of his brother, William).