Fred Brown

Fred Brown was born in 1883 the son of Edward a colliery labourer and Julia Brown née Johnson of 1 Albert Avenue Stapleford Nottinghamshire. Edward was born in 1854 in Alnwick, Northumberland, Julia Annie Johnson was born in 1856 in Buckland Hollow Derbyshire, they were married on 4th November 1878 in Ripley and went on to have 12 children,4 were to die in infancy or early childhood, their children listed on the 1901/1911 census are Fanny b1878 Manchester, Edward b1879 Ripley, Fred b1884 Fritchley, Barbara b1886 Bullbridge, Derbyshire, Florence b1888 Fritchely, Thomas b1892 Derby, Mabel b1896 Derby, Edward b1900 Osmaston and Reggie b1905 Stapleford. in 1911 the family are living at 16 Horace Ave, Stapleford Edward 57 yrs a colliery labourer Julia 55 yrs and their children, Fred 27 yrs an engineers driller, Barbara 25 yrs a tailoress, Thomas, 19 yrs a colliery labourer, Mabel 15 yrs a tailors machinist and Reggie 6 yrs a scholar.

Lance Corporal Fred Brown, enlisted at Nottingham he landed in France on 19th May 1915 and was killed in action on 28th October 1917 buried in Bedford House Cemetery, Ypres (Grave Reference: Enclosure 2 III C 6)

Obituaries from the Nottingham Evening Post 28th October 1918:- “BROWN. – In proud and loving memory of our darling son, Lce.-Cpl. Fred Brown, Royal Engineers, 1, Albert-avenue, Stapleford, killed in action October 28th, 1917. The hardest part is yet to come, when the heroes all return there will be one that will be sadly missed, that's the face of our dear son. A day of remembrance sad to recall. – From his ever-sorrowing mother, father, and Reg. “BROWN. – In cherished memory of the dearest of brothers, Lce.-Cpl. Fred Brown, Royal Engineers, killed in action October 28th, 1917. Forget hm? no, we never will, we loved him in life, we love him still; from memory's page we will never blot, three little words, forget-me-not. A noble hero, deeply mourned. – Sister and brother, Barbara and Tom. “BROWN. – In ever-loving memory of our dear brother, Lce.-Cpl. F. Brown, R.E., killed in action October 28th, 1917. He sleeps not in his native land, but 'neath a foreign sky far from those who loved him dear, in a hero's grave he lies. – From Percy and Francis.” Obituaries courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.