Photo: Brian Chandler
M. Brown
West Yorkshire Regiment
8th October 1920, age 38.
Matthew was born in 1881 and married on 31 March 1902, although it would seem that his wife died prior to his enlisting on 4 January 1917. His next of kin was recorded as his mother, Mary, of 58 Newcombe Street, Newcastle upon Tyne.
He seems to have had a rather colourful period in the army. He suffered a ‘trivial’ sprain injury on 3 July 1917 which he claimed occurred during military duty and was hospitalised. There are 5 separate occasions where he was A.W.O.L. which resulted in a total of 43 days punishment and there is a report of a court case for maintenance payments for an ‘illegitimate’ child with Miss Mary McGivnea of Newcastle in December 1917.
He was captured on 28 March 1918 at Rosiers and was held in Germany. He was transferred to the Labour Corps upon his release and eventually discharged on 19 May 1919.
Acknowledgements: Ron Carson