Photo: J. Brown
In St.Mary's Churchyard Blanchland is a family headstone for Brown which reads:
In
loving memory of
John Brown
beloved husband of
Annie Brown
who died June 16th 1906
aged 48 years.
Also of Jane
daughter of the above
who died March 12th 1888
aged 1 year and 10 months.
Also their son John
killed in action
June 21st 1916, aged 28 years.
Also the above
Annie Brown
died August 11th 1938
aged 77 years.
Also Eric Brown
1922-2000
Also Joan Brown
1929-2000.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Brown Jnr, one of 7 children, the 2nd born of 3 brothers he had 2 elder and 2 younger sisters. His father John Brown Snr was born in 1858 at Bellingham, Northumberland and married at the age of 22-years in the district of Hexham, to Annie Steele, born 1861 at Wark, Northumberland. Their daughter Mary Ann and son Henry were born at Slaley in 1881 and 1885 respectively, also Jane in 1886 who sadly died aged 1-year 10 months, March 12th 1888 at Blanchland, while Annie was pregnant with their fourth child, she was interred at The Church of St. Mary Churchyard, Blanchland, John Jnr was born during the 3rd quarter (July/Aug/Sep) 1888. Their third daughter, who they chose to also name Jane, was born in 1890 whilst they were still living in the village of Blanchland, where John Snr was employed as a mason. Over the next ten years they had a further two children, Robert William in 1892 and Elizabeth 1895. John Snr supported his younger children as the only breadwinner, Mary Ann (19) was employed as a housemaid, one of 4 domestic servants and lived in the home of merchant Robert Farrow, his wife Rhoda, sons Robert and Arnold and daughter Susan, at Woodside, Sunderland, Henry (16) was a boarder in the home of stud groom James Watkin and wife Dora at Dovecote, Stannington, Henry was employed as a groom. John Brown Snr (48) died, June 16th 1906 and interred in the family plot within St. Mary’s, Blanchland. By 1911 Mary Ann (29) had returned to the family home although still employed as a waiting maid, John (22) had followed in his father’s footsteps to become a stone mason, Robert William (18) was a general labourer, all three supported their mother Annie and sister Elizabeth (16), Henry was living in 2 rooms at Mitford, Morpeth, which he shared with chauffeur Albert Edward Dunn, he was employed as a coachman, the whereabouts of Jane are unknown.
When war was declared in 1914 all regiments formed new battalion to answer the call to arms. John was amongst the first to enlist at Hexham, assigned as Private 2774 to the 4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, a Territorial Force, Northumberland Brigade, Northumbrian Division, posted to the Tyne defences. The Territorials were split into two lines during November 1914, the 1st Line for men willing to serve overseas, the 2nd Line for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas. The 1/4th Battalion N.F. departed to France where it became part of the 149th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division, April 20th 1915 and making its way to Belgium, without any nursery training or trench familiarisation was sent into the front line during the 2nd Battle of Ypres, April 22nd-May 25th 1915. The Germans had attacked using poison gas in the run up to the Battle of St. Julien, April 24th-May 5th, during which the 149th Brigade including the 1/4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, was part of the British counterattack. Private John Brown did not depart with the first wave but joined his battalion in the field as of January 1916 attached to “B’ Company (Corbridge) 1/4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers who were, near Armentieres and Kemmel in and out of the front line trenches subjected to shellfire and gas attacks, until moving south to participate in the final stages of the Battles of the Somme in late 1916 at Flers-Courselette.
Private 2774 John Brown Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action, June 21st 1916 and laid to rest within La Laterie Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderens, Belgium, grave IV. B. 3. He was 28 years of age and single.
Having made a will nominating his mother Annie as sole legitimate beneficiary, she received all monies due to him from the Army and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
John’s brothers Henry Brown served with the Army Veterinary Corps and Robert William Brown with the Durham Light Infantry, both survived the conflict.
Annie Brown nee Steele (77) died, August 11 1938 and interred with, “her beloved husband,” and daughter Jane in the family plot, St Mary’s, Blanchland. The headstone also makes reference to the death of their son John during WW1.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Brown is remembered at Blanchland on B40.01
