Newcastle Illustrated Chronicle 1916

Newcastle Journal Thursday 29/10/1914

No 25. Private Edmund Brown Piper

Newcastle Evening Chronicle 01/08/1916

WW1 Irish Roll of Honour page 254

Edmund or Edward Alexander Brown was born at the Old Colliery, Scremerston, Berwick on the 14th August 1893, the son of David [born 1867, Barmoor, Lowick], and Lily Jones Jarrett, Brown [born 1867, Parkgate, Rotherham, Yorkshire]. He was the second oldest son of five children, Florence born 1889 Durham, William born 1891 Scremerston, Annie, born 1896 and Oliver born 1898, both born at Amble, Northumberland.

They were married in St. Edmund’s Church, Gateshead on the 2nd January 1888. At this time David gave his profession as a Cartman and was living in Newcastle upon Tyne, and his father William Brown was a Colliery Overman. Lilly was living in Sunderland Place, Gateshead, and her father William Jones Jarrett was employed as a labourer.

In 1901, they were still residing at Gateshead, at 19 Westminster Street. His father was employed as a coal miner hewer.

By 1911, Edmund was employed as a Rope Lad Ground, at the High Pit in North Walbottle, and was residing at 26 Armstrong Street, Burn Close, Westerhope, with his parents and three other siblings.

Florence married in 1909 Robert Briggs and was living at Whorlton Terrace in North Walbottle with her husband and young son Clifford.

Older brother William married Annie Convery at St. John’s Parish Church, Whorlton, on the 18th July and gave his profession as an electrician (this was originally stated as miner which was then crossed out) living at Burn Close. His wife Annie was living at Beaumont Terrace, their witnesses were George Convery and Annie Brown.

Edmund married Ada Florence Thirlwell on the 14th February 1914 at the Register Office of the Castle Ward, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Edmund gave his age as 21 years old, and his address as 26, Armstrong Street, Burn Close, Callerton. Occupation coal hewer. Ada gave her age as 18 years old and her address as 5, Blayney Row, Newburn. Their witnesses were W. J. Bowhill and G. Thirlwell (possibly Gladys Thirlwell, Ada’s sister).

Compared to the Census returns and other available information it appears Ada overstated her age.

Ada was born at Midgeholme, Brampton in Cumberland. A suggested date of birth has been given as 30th June 1898 but this is unconfirmed. The youngest child of a large family, Ada had 10 surviving siblings identified through the Census returns as Ralph, Mary, Sarah, Richard, Hannah, Frank, Matthew, Annie, Mark and Gladys. Her parents were John and Isabella (nee Dixon) and Ada and her family can be found in the 1911 Census living at 9 Short Row, Burns Close, Westerhope and she is listed as 12 years old when the Census is taken in early April.

At least two of her brothers served in WW1, Richard who died at the War Memorial Hospital on the 22nd October 1923 age 39 years and is buried in Haltwhistle Cemetery, and also Mark who was injured but survived the war.

Edmund and Ada had a daughter, Olive, who was born on the 28th March 1914 at Burn Close, Callerton. Edmund gave his occupation as a colliery putter and hewer. Daughter Olive was baptised at St. John’s Church in Whorlton on 10th May 1914.

Edmund enlisted on the 29th October in 1914, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. His youngest brother Oliver also enlisted the same day, they both were piper's in the 24th (1st Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers band.

The Tyneside Irish were the only band in the army using the Irish War pipes. The pipers of the Tyneside Irish had green cuffs added to their khaki jackets and bandsman's wings on the shoulder, with green lanyards as well as green pipe banners and green pipe bags.

Source: J Sheen Tyneside Irish, page 180.

The first sign of an Irish battalion started with a letter to the Editor of the Newcastle Evening Chronicle Saturday 12/09/1914. It was signed by the Tyneside Irish committee.

The Central recruiting office was at the Corn Exchange, Town Hall Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Dunns Buildings were used as 24th Battalion Billets with Eldon square as the parade ground. By about the 2nd November 1914, there was over 900 men that had been recruited, by the end of that week the battalion was over a 1000 men. On the 10th November a Second battalion was recruited. On the 23rd December 1914, the battalion paraded at Eldon Square, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. By the 9th January 1915, the battalion were completely kitted out in Khaki.

On Thursday 29th October, the Newcastle Journal carried a report about the Recruiting for the Tyneside Brigade, under the heading Lord Roberts and the Irish Battalion. At the botton of the article is a list of men who had enlisted, Edmund Brown from Westerhope was one of these men along with his brother.

Recruiting in the city continued, and a Tyneside Scottish Battalion and two Commercial Battalions were raised before the end of the year. There was such a huge response from the Irish community that a 2nd Tyneside Irish battalion was raised and ultimately a third and fourth one.

On the 12th March the 24th Battalion marched by Grainger Street to Newcastle Central station where two trains took them to their new camp at Alnwick.

Edmund was in Camp A at Alnwick, and 'B' Company the [company he was in] was billeted in Hut 5.

In May 1915, the Tyneside Battalions were to be together and they assembled at Woolsington Hall, on the outskirts of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. On the 20th May they were paraded on the Town Moor and were inspected by His Majesty the King and Lord Kitchener. At the end of August, the Tyneside Brigade entrained for Andover. September they were moved to Salisbury Plain. 24th Battalion were in Camp No 7, at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire.

On the 11th January, the 24th Battalion left on three trains for Southampton before embarking at Le Havre. They were transported on the SS Mona's Queen steam packet. By the beginning of February 1916, the 24th Battalion was attached to 24th Brigade, as they were considered ready for the trenches, 'B' Company was attached to the 2nd East Lancashire Regiment at the sector between Bois-Grenier and La Guernurie. 'A' and 'B' Companies were placed straight into the trenches. Edmund would have been in 'B' Company. On the 12th February they were relieved by 'C' and 'D' Companies. On the 14th February they went up to the front line and relieved the 2nd Northamptonshire Regiment, 'A' 'B' 'C' Companies in the front line 'D' Company is support.

The trenches were heavily shelled by the Germans, killing one man and wounding 4 others.

In Irish Heroes in the War by John Keating, there is mention of a piper, At Albert, an Irish Piper from Tyneside found himself compelled to leap out of the trench at the signal to advance, and play his company over the parapet into action. He marched ahead through a storm of bullets which were wounding or killing his comrades all around him, until he himself fell among the wounded.

On the first day of the Somme, the 24th Battalion advanced into a hail of machine-gun fire and rifle fire, Edmund was killed in action on the 1st July 1916.

He was positively identified by his disc, which was then forwarded to Base. His wife Ada had the words "God be with you, till we meet again" added to his headstone.

The I.W.G.C., at the time had mapped where his body was found, 57d. A.19. b.9.8. along with then 5 unknown British Soldiers and an unknown Australian Soldier.

At the time of Edmund’s death in 1916 the address for the family was 10, Severs Terrace, Callerton.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle 01 and 02/08/1916. BROWN – Killed in action, July 1, 1916, aged 22 years, Private Edmund A. Brown, 351, husband of Mrs. Brown, 10, Severs Terrace, Callerton. He marched away so bravely, his young head proudly held, his footsteps never faltered, his courage never failed, and on the field of battle he calmly took his place; He fought and died for Britain and the honour of his race. Deeply mourned by his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong, Callerton.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle 01 and 02/08/1916BROWN – Killed in action, July 1, 1916, aged 22 years, Private Edmund A. Brown, 351, husband of Mrs. Brown, 10, Severs Terrace, Callerton. For his king and country he died, so young, so strong, so brave. A flush on his eager soul; His body bore to a hero’s grave. His name on the honours roll, farewell dear wife, my life is past, truly thou loved me to the last; Grieve not for me, nor sorrow take, but love our child for my sake. My husband gone, and I am left the loss of him to mourn, and may I meet with him above, with Christ, before God’s throne. Deeply mourned by his loving wife, father and mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and brother-in-law.

BROWN – Killed in action, July 1st, in his 23rd year. Piper E. A. Brown the dearly loved second son of David and Lily Brown of Callerton and grandson of William Jones and the late Mary Ann Jarrett, Gateshead; also of the late William and Jane Brown of Scremerston. Deeply mourned by father, mother, sisters and brothers. His life he gave, a sacrifice to war.

BROWN – Killed in action, July 1st, 1916. Piper E. A. Brown, N.F., of Callerton, dearly beloved brother-in-law of Hannah Birkett and Thomas Birkett (in France).

BROWN – Killed in action July 1st, in his 23rd year, Piper E. A. Brown, 24th N.F., the dearly loved brother of Florence and Robert Briggs, North Walbottle. Deeply mourned.

Ada married on 20th April 1918 George William Smith at St. John’s Church, Whorlton. Both gave their residence as Burn Close, and George’s occupation was a miner. Their witnesses were Hugh Albert McKeown and Gladys Thirlwell (presumably Ada’s sister). Ada gave her age as 22 years old, which would appear to be again overstated.

Source: Irish Heroes in the War John Keating

For a detailed History of the Tyneside Irish Battalions see Tyneside Irish by J. Sheen. ISBN 085052587X

Photographs: Gale and Polden Ltd

Research: Jean Atkinson; James Pasby

Edmund [Edward] Alexander Brown is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01

Edmund [Edward] Alexander Brown is also remembered in Ireland's Roll of Honour on page 254, though it shows an incorrect Christian name of Edward instead of Edmund.

History of the Tyneside Irish
Capture of Boisselle
Battle remains today
W1 Battlefields Somme
The CWGC entry for Private Brown