No.21520, Private, Robert BROWN
Aged 21
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Robert Brown was born in Dullingham on 16th December 1894.(Newmarket Q1-1895 3B:527) son of Robert and Priscilla BROWN (née RADFORD).
In the baptismal records his father is recorded as a maltster.
1901 census...Aged 6, he was at the Cottages near Church, Dullingham, with his widower father Robert BROWN [40]a navvy with GER, brother Harry [17] (horse keeper); sisters Nellie [14] and Alice [12], brother Charles [10] and sisters Priscilla [8] and Lillie [4]. All born in Dullingham. His mother had died in 1900 1911 census...Aged 16, a farm labourer, he was at Station Road, Dullingham with his sister and brother in law Nellie and Thomas PETITT and their children Herbert, Frank and Mary May. His parents were still in Station Road with brother Charlie and sisters Priscilla and Lillie. The house numbers are not known. His dependant was sister Lily BROWN, Station Road, Dullingham His elder brother Harry was killed in France in 1916 see here |
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He enlisted in Putney in the 3rd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment,on 27th November 1915, he gave his age as 21 years, occupation- groom of
Station Road, Dullingham. Height 5 feet 6.25 inches (168.2 cm), weighing 132 lbs (60.1 kg), chest 35" to 37 " (88.9 to 94 cm)
The 1st Battalion were not in action, they were in billets about 5 km behind the line, NE of Bethune, and carrying out training. Robert's was the only death in the battalion. No report of the cause has been found, possibly an accident on the rifle range, they were undergoing musketry drill. |
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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