South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project
The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France & Flanders | 1914 Star, British War & Victory Medals | Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 26 Sep 1914 in Marsailles, France | ~ | King Edward VI School Memorial |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Died | Date and Place Enlisted | Other War Memorials |
| Battle of Neuve Chapelle | 28 Jul 1900 | Shepton Beauchamp (Somerset) |
| Royal Memorial Chapel, Sandhurst | ||
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | |
| Bois de Biez, Neuve Chapelle | Bedfordshire Regiment in India | |
Service Record
- 20 Jul 1900 - Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant into Indian Army with the Bedfordshire Regiment
- 28 Oct 1902 - Promoted to Lieutenant
- 28 Jul 1909 - Promoted to Captain
- 18 Feb 1915 - Awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
| On October 23 the Battalion moved into a support position on the right flank of the French cavalry with the British 19th Brigade, with orders to engage the enemy only if needed for a counter- attack. The 47th Sikhs were deployed in the vicinity of Neuve-Chapelle. It soon became the Indian Sector. The men endured the constant icy chill of the northern marshes and dreadfully bad trenches. The British Indian troops, vaselined and oiled to the waist, were thrown piecemeal into the heaviest fighting. The Indian charge captured part of Neuve Chapelle village but had to retire before a strong German counter-attack with strong machine-gun support. Captain Moray Brown rallied his men under heavy artillery fire, but returned with only sixty-eight, and they were at once ordered by the GOC 9 Brigade to form a picquet at a crossroads before they could eventually return to Estaires. As a result of his actions, Alan Moray Brown was awarded the Military Cross.
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Circumstances of Death
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Captain Brown is listed as being killed in action on 12th March 1915. The 47th Sikhs war diary entry for that day is transcribed below. 12.3.1915 – La Bassee – 4.30am: Fell in at 4.30am ready to move off 4.45am: Heavily shelled by shrapnel and hight explosive for about an hour & half. Capts Brown, Ralston and Subalterns Mit Singh and Sunder Singh wounded. 6am: Moved up trenches at the side of La Bassee road to old German trenches near Neuve Chapelle 10.15am: Ordered to attack Bois de Biez as centre Battalion of Brigade. Attack to commence at 11am. 10.55: Attack postponed to 1pm. 120 Germans surrendered 1pm: Attack commenced, No 2 & No 4 Coys in front. No 3 in support and No1 and Machine Guns in reserve. 2.30pm: First line reached trenches held by 3rd Gurkhas, advance held up. During the advance the enemys fire was very heavy both rifle and machine guns. Casualties: Killed Capt Brown, Subalterns Harnam Singh, Chur Singh and Jiwan Singh. Stayed in trenches and at dark strengthened them. |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| 6 Sep 1881 in Torquay | 12 Oct 1881 in Torquay |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| Lt. James Moray & Anna Maria Moray Brown | Wales House, Queen Camel, Somerset |
| Paternal Grandparents | Abode |
| Lieutenant Colonel James and Jessy Brown | ~ |
| Schools | Colleges |
| King Edward VI School, Stratford on Avon 1892/89 | Sandhurst Military College |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1881 - Torquay | 1891 - Scholar |
| 1891 - 36 Woodstock Road, Chiswick | 1900 - 2nd Lieutenant in Indian Army |
| 1901 - Army Barracks in India | 1901 - 2nd Lieutenant in Indian Army |
| 1911 - Army Barracks, Jullundur, India | 1911 - Capt in British Army, India |
| 1914 - Army Barracks, Jullundur, India | 1914 - Capt in British Army, India |
- Captain of KEVI School Cricket & Rugby teams
- Alan's KEVI School biography/obituary can be found by clicking here and contains a lot of information about the privations faced by
Indian Troops in France
