HMHS St Patrick

4th General Hospital Lincoln

Military Hospital York

Thomas Brown Jnr was the 3rd born of 4 sons and 4 daughters, born to Thomas Brown of Serbergham, Cumberland, where he was baptised July 13th 1837 and his wife Margaret Carrick of Dalston, Cumberland, born 1842, whom he married in the district of Carlisle in 1863. Their eldest child Mary was born at Dalton in 1865, however, they migrated to the north east where William was born at Sunderland in 1867, John 1869 at Leadgate, Durham, Ann 1871 at Sunny Side, Crook and Billy Row where her father was employed as a coal miner. By 1874 when daughter Margaret was born they had moved to West Auckland, Hannah and Thomas were born at Close House, Durham in 1876 and 1879 respectively. In 1881 they were living at High Gurney Villa, Coundon Grange, Thomas had been joined at the mine by eldest son William (14) a driver, John (12) a labourer, the younger children were all scholars. Between 1881 and 1888 they had transferred to South Shields where Richard was born in 1888, returning to 48, Hildyard Terrace, New Shildon, by 1891. Thomas, son William (24), John (22) were now all employed as coal hewers, Ann (20) as a dressmaker, Margaret (17) remained at home with her mother looking after Thomas (12) and Richard (3). Over the next 10 years at some point Thomas and his wife separated, Margaret lists herself as a widow in the census of 1901 and had moved to Beechgrove Terrace, parish of Edmondsley, supported by sons Thomas (22) and Richard (13) employed as coal miners, her husband Thomas (63), now retired, still listed as married, had moved to 6, Gullock Street, Wingate, where he was a boarder in the home of coal miner John Henderson and family.

Thomas Jnr was married in the district of Sunderland, January 1st 1902 to Margaret Ann Partland, who was born there in 1881. He was employed as a labourer and living in 1914 at 7, Moorgate Street, Sunderland, with his wife and children, Elizabeth born September 6th 1901, Ralph, October 10th 1903, Thomas Jnr., March 20th 1906, William, December 14th 1908. Their son Charles was born, March 3rd 1912 and John Mitchinson Brown March 14th 1915.

Margaret Brown nee Carrick died in the district of Easington, County Durham in 1904.

Thomas Brown enlisted at Sunderland, January 2nd 1915, declaring he had previously served with the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion Durham Light Infantry as a Corporal, discharged September 1st 1912. Due to this previous experience he returned to the colours and was immediately promoted to the rank of Acting Corporal the following day, remaining at the D.L.I. Depot until November 17th 1915 when he was posted as Corporal to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion D.L.I. The 3rd (Reserve) Battalion was stationed as South Shields as part of the coastal defences but also trained men for the draft. Once mobilised he was posted to the 1st General Battalion, January 1st 1917, as Acting Sergeant but transferred as a Corporal to the West Yorkshire Regiment February 24th 1917, stationed at Blyth until he departed from Folkestone, September 13th 1917, landing at Boulogne. He arrived at the 32nd Infantry Base Depot at Etaples the following day and was posted as Corporal 34492 to the 16th Battalion Northumberland Fusilier, September 23rd 1917. The battalion had just left the trenches in the Lombartzyde sector and was on the move into the reserve at Nieuport, engaged in working and carrying parties. September 29th they left Nieuport for Coxyde where they engaged the Germans until October 2nd 1917 before moving to La Panne and by the 5th were withdrawn to a rest camp before returning to Divisional H.Q. at Fort de Dunes, near Dunkerque and Malo les Bains.

The battalion remained at Divisional H.Q. until October 26th 1917 before moving to Zeggers Cappel for additional training, marching to Ledringhem, en route to Ypres, arriving November 12th 1917, engaged at Oudzeele and Turco Farm supplying shells to the batteries before moving closer to Poperinghe and were ordered to attack as part of the 97th Brigade. They entered the front line November 30th 1917 relieving the 2nd Inniskilling Fusiliers from where they launched an attack December 2nd 1917 but were withdrawn the following day to Irish Farm.

Corporal Brown was due to return to the front line with his battalion between Paddebeek and Lekker Botterbeek, when he was instead diagnosed, December 4th 1917, as suffering from trench foot. He was evacuated by the 91st Field Ambulance to the 59th (Northern) General Hospital at the hospital and railhead centre at St. Omer and from there repatriated to England aboard the steamship H.M.H.S St. Patrick, December 11th 1917, which prior to being requisitioned had been used by her owners as a ferry running between Fishguard and Rosslare. Admitted to the 4th Northern General Hospital, Lincoln, pre-war the Lincoln Grammar School, he remained there until February 26th 1918, however, 5 months later he was again admitted to the Military Hospital York with a fracture, from July 28th 1918 until August 28th 1918.

Corporal Brown did not return to active service in the front line as his mobility had been seriously effected by both ailments. January 29th 1918 he was transferred to the Inland Water & Railways unit of the Royal Engineers at Sandwich, gaining proficiency certificates January 18th 1918 and November 1st 1918 as a stevedore, and deployed to Southampton.

After the declaration of the Armistice with Germany, November 11th 1918, servicemen both in England and abroad were discharged beginning with those most needy of medical attention, the recovering wounded and infirm. Corporal 347816 Thomas Brown was transferred to Class Z Army Reserve, February 26th 1919, free to return to his home and employment but under the obligation of returning to active service should hostilities with Germany resume. Class Z was abolished March 30th 1920 after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, June 28th 1919, which officially brought WW1 to an end.

Thomas’ brother Richard Brown also served during WW1 as Corporal 1707 Northumberland Fusiliers and was killed in 1918.

Existing details as regards the demise of Brown family members are limited to John Mitchinson Brown of 91, Hood Street, Southwick, Sunderland, who died June 4th 1973, aged 58 years, leaving effects in the sum of 164 pounds.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

There is a Thomas Brown listed at Southwick as serving on S130.03 and S130.14 Is this the above Thomas Brown?