Our People - Brown Family of Leyland |
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George and Reuben Brown were half-brothers who were killed on active duty in 1917 and 1918 respectively. Their brother in law, Cornwall Mackarel also saw active service during the war as well as earlier service in South Africa.
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#202601 Private George Brown
1/4th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment 164th Brigade, 55th (West Lancashire) Division Killed in action 18 July 1917 Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Ref: III.G.8 George Brown was born at Preston in 1879 to Reuben Brown and his first wife Julia Ackers. He worked as a cotton weaver. He married Jane Ellen Bretherton in the third quarter of 1913 but the couple were childless. There are few records available for George. He did not serve abroad in 1914 or 1915, which makes it likely he was conscripted. George met his death during the preliminary stages of the Battle of Third Ypres.
George's wages of £2 6s 11s were passed to his wife on 30 July 1917 and she was also awarded a War Gratuity of £3 on 5 November 1919.
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Photographs taken at a visit to George Brown's CWGC burial site at Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery in 2016
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#12517 Guardsman Reuben Brown
1st Battalion Scots Guards 2nd Guards Brigade, Guards Division Killed in action 17 May 1918 Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 1 Reuben Brown was born at Leyland in 1898 to Reuben Brown and his second wife Margaret Todd. He lived with his parents at Tank Cottage, Mill Lane, Leyland and was working as a blacksmith when he joined up. He enlisted on 8 December 1914 at Preston aged 19 years and 2 months. He was posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion of the Scots Guards. His medical examination showed that he stood 5 foot 9 inches tall and weighed 151 pounds (10 stones 11 pounds). His chest was 37.5 inches in diameter with a 3 inch expansion. He had a mole on his left breast and he had perfect 6/6 vision in both eyes. In fact he was described as in "Good physical condition".
From Preston, Reuben first went to Caterham Barracks in Surrey before moving on to the Wellington Barracks in Westminster. These Barracks are around three hundred yards from Buckingham Palace and are still used by foot guards battalions undertaking public duties in the area. Reuben was given a further physical examination 22 May 1915 at Wellington were he was passed fit for military service. He then embarked for France where he landed on 24 May 1915 and was then transferred immediately to the 2nd Battalion (part of the 7th Division at that time). At the time of his landing in France, the 2nd Battalion were engaged at the Battle of Festubert, but as that battle ended 25 May 1915 it is very unlikely that Reuben would have seen action there. The 2nd saw their next action at Givenchy on 15 and 16 June 1915. This action was in response to a plea by the French Army who were being pressurised at Arras. To relieve this pressure the 7th Division attacked the German lines at Givenchy, which they took on 15 June. However, they lost it again the next day in a German counter offensive. The battle ended in a stalemate costing the lives of 368 men and 19 officers on the allied side. The 2nd Battalion were next in action at the Battle of Loos between 25 September and 8 October 1915. It was the biggest British attack of 1915, the first time that the British used poison gas and the first mass engagement of New Army units. The French and British tried to break through the German defences in Artois and Champagne and restore a war of movement. Despite improved methods, more ammunition and better equipment, the Franco-British attacks were contained by the German armies, except for local losses of ground. British casualties at Loos were about twice as high as German losses (59,247 casualties and losses) Having survived these two battles Reuben was wounded 17 July 1916. He sustained a gun shot wound to his right arm. It is likely that he was sniped at when in his trench or was wounded as part of a raiding party. He was at first evacuated to the 9 Field Ambulance 18 July then onto the 12 Casualty Clearing Station at Hazebrouck the same day. From there he went to one of the many field hospitals near Boulogne on 19 July and on 21 July he was invalided home to England. He had been on the western front for 1 year and 59 days. He was transferred back to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion 22 July and was admitted to the 2nd Northern General Hospital in Leeds the same day. He remained in hospital until 22 August 1916. Reuben was again posted to Wellington Barracks in Westminster. There were two offences reported against him at this time. On 12 January 1917 he was charged with "Creating a disturbance in the Barrack Room after "lights out"" and was sentenced to 2 days confined to barracks the following day. Being confined to barracks was sometimes referred to as "jankers", and men would be expected to perform menial time-consuming tasks. On 22 January 1918 Reuben turned up for guard duty at St. James's Palace whereupon he was rejected for duty. The charge sheet doesn't show why. The following day he was sentenced to 3 days confined to barracks and was ordered to "Make Good Guard". It was then almost time for Reuben to return to France. He was again examined at Wellington Barracks on 26 February 1918 and was found fit for military service. He married his sweetheart Christine Aramina Angus at the Clifton Hotel in Blackpool 28 March 1918. Two days later on 30 March 1918 he was back in France and was transferred to the 1st Battalion. He had been convalescing and serving at home for a total of 1 year and 251 days. Over in northern France, Reuben and the 1st Scots Guards were plunged almost immediately into a series of battles that became known as The Battle of the Lys (1918). These battles from 7 to 29 April 1918, were part of the 1918 German offensive in Flanders, also known as the Spring Offensive. It was originally planned by General Ludendorff as Operation George but was reduced to Operation Georgette, with the objective of capturing Ypres, forcing the British forces back to the channel ports and out of the war. In planning, execution and effects, Georgette was similar to (although smaller than) Operation Michael, earlier in the Spring Offensive. The 1st Scots Guards were involved in three smaller battles in this series. The Battle of Estaires from 9 to 11 April, the Battle of Hazebrouck from 12 to 15 April and the Battle of Bethune on the 18 April. French reinforcements arrived in the latter part of April, the Germans had suffered many casualties, especially among the stoßtruppen and attacks toward Hazebrouck failed. It was clear that Georgette could not achieve its objectives; on 29 April the German high command called off the offensive. Little is known about Reuben's death in action on 17 May 1918. His battalion was not engaged in any battles that day. The fact he was at first posted missing would suggest he may have been killed on a raiding party. In this second stint in France he served a total of 49 days. Reuben's son, also Reuben second name Francis, was born on 10 December 1918. A pension note dated 14 January 1919 awarded 20 shillings and 5 pence per week for Christine and Reuben Francis. Vertical Divider
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With special thanks to Christine Waller of Lostock Hall for access to photographs, medals and memorial plaque
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#612534 Corporal Cornwall Mackeral
Labour Corps, formerly 17603 Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), formerly 4726 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment Cornwall Mackeral was born at Leyland to John and Mary Mackeral on 6 Oct 1875. His first job after leaving school was a bleacher, most probably at Stanning's and Co. in Leyland.
Cornwall joined the 4th Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment as a Private on 12 May 1894 later attesting for the 1st Battalion at Preston 27 December 1894 for a full 12 years service. He was aged 19 years and 3 months. When he was examined he was found to be 5 feet 4.25 inches tall, weighed 8 Stones and 8 pounds with a 33.5 inch chest and an expansion to 35.5 inches. He was described as having a sallow complexion with hazel eyes and brown hair. He had a tattoo of a stag's head on the back of his left hand and a man's head with an anchor on his left forearm. Cornwall at first trained and was stationed at home from 27 December 1894 to 21 October 1896 before shipping out to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) from 22 October 1896 to 10 February 1899. He then moved to South Africa where he was stationed from 11 February 1899 to 3 October 1902. During this time he saw action during the Second Boer War at the battles of Belmont, Modder River, Orange Free State and Transvaal. He was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps for the aforementioned battles and later the King's South Africa Medal with South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902 clasps. Cornwall returned home to complete the rest of his service from 4 October 1902 to 26 December 1906. During this period he married Clara Brown in the second quarter of 1905. Clara was the full sister of George Brown and the half-sister of Reuben Brown above. When the Great War came, Cornwall re-enlisted in the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and was promoted to Corporal due to his earlier service. Little is known about his exploits in the war, other than he was transferred at some point to the Labour Corps. This sometimes happened to older soldiers who were not fit for front line duties. He was awarded the 1914-15 star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal to put alongside his earlier South African campaign medals. Upon the death of Reuben Brown, Cornwall and Clara took his son Reuben Francis Brown into their care. He was still living with them at number 70 Leyland Lane at the time of the 1939 registration. Vertical Divider
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With special thanks to Christine Waller of Lostock Hall for access to photographs and medals
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