Harelaw Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Wheatley Brown was the eldest of 3 siblings and the only son of George Wheatley Brown born November 26th 1868 and Sara Jane Harrison, born 1874, native of Medomsley also in County Durham, and whom he married in the district of Lanchester in 1897. William was born during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1898 at Kyo, in 1901 they are living at 9, Victoria Terrace, Annfield Plain, his father was employed by the North Eastern Railway as a mineral guard. His sisters Elizabeth Ada and Freda May were both born at Collierly, July 15th 1902 and May 8th 1905 respectively. The family had moved into 5 rooms at 5 Bourne Terrace, Annfield Plain by 1911, George Wheatley’s employment remained unchanged.
When war was declared with Germany in August 1914 William was only 16 years of age, still too young to enlist, however, he did so once he turned 18, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. He was assigned as Private 45382 Yorkshire Light Infantry, battalion unknown, and was not eligible for service overseas until the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/June) 1917 having turned 19 years of age. His training complete he departed for the Western Front, either prior or soon after, he was transferred with a change of service number, as Private 77652 Cheshire Regiment, joining the newly formed 23rd Battalion, 178th Brigade, 59th Division.
In early May 1918 they sustained heavy losses during the 2nd Battles of the Somme and Lys, reduced to cadre strength. The surplus men were sent to base depot or drafted to other units. After the reconstruction and training of the 59th Division it entered the front line again and took over the front line sector, July 25th 1918, under the command of the Third Army.
Private 77652 William Wheatley Brown Cheshire Regiment died of wounds on the battlefield and brought into Borre British Cemetery, Nord, France, used by the fighting units in the area and the Field Ambulance, May-September 1918. He is at rest grave II. F. 13, Private Brown was 20 years old and single.
His father George Wheatley Brown received all monies due to him from the Army, his mother a pension of 10 shillings a week as of January 29th 1919, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, were sent them at Bourne Terrace, Annfield Plain, County Durham. Mr. G. W. Brown commissioned at his own personal cost, an additional inscription to be added to his son’s military headstone, it reads, “Peace Perfect Peace.”
Sarah Jane Brown nee Harrison died June 14th 1922 aged 48 years, her widower George Wheatley Brown, aged 71 years, April 17th 1940.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace
Within Harelaw Cemetery, Stanley, County Durham there is a family tombstone which reads;
In
Loving Memory Of
SARAH JANE
Dearly Beloved Wife Of
GEORGE W. BROWN
Of Hazebrouck Annfield Plain
Who Died June 14th 1922
Aged 48 Years
Also Of The Above
GEORGE W BROWN
Who Died April 17th 1940
Aged 71 Years
William Wheatley Brown is remembered at Annfield Plain on A38.01 and A38.11
