James Brown

Gunner James Brown. Authors image

15060 Gunner

59th Battery, 18th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery

Age: 42

Date of Death: 28.9.17

Buried: Woods Cemetery

Family: He was married to Mary, she remarried and was known as McVay. He had a sister who also lived in Stenhousemuir her married name was Campbell and she lived at Raemount Place.

The action leading to his death

He was a regular and was serving in India, the Battery was part of the 3rd Indian (Lahore) Division based at or near Ferozepore in southern India. The Division arrived in France, landing at Marseilles on 26 September 1914, and moved up to the front line taking part in the First Battle of Ypres. James is recorded as having entered theatre on 27th September 1914 (see his Medal Index Card below) with his award of the 1914 Star with clasp and rose confirming that sometime before midnight of 22nd/23rd November 1914 he had served under fire (and as such would be known as an Old Contemptible). The Battery saw action throughout 1915 at the battles of Aubers and Festubert and on 25 November 1915 they left the Lahore Division and transferred to the 3rd and then the 4th Canadian Division from 1916 to August 1917 when it became the 18th Army Brigade and was controlled at Army level and not attached to any particular Division. It moved to Flanders in August 1917 under the command of the Fifth Army and took part in the battles of Third Ypres. On the 7 August 1917 they relieved the 113th Army Brigade and took up positions at Zillebeke at a location known as Dormy House providing fire support to the attack of the 56th Division on 17 August towards Glencorse Wood and Inverness Copse on the Gheluvelt plateau. They remained in this position until 11 September when they moved and came under the orders of IXth Corps and took up position at Oosthoek supporting the attack on 20 September towards Bassevillebeek. On the 22 September they came out of the line and went into rest near Bailleul.

Trench map showing the location of British gun sites around Verbrandenmolen. the front line trenches are also visible. Map from 1 April 1917. The trenches are on The Bluff.

On the 27 September 1917 the Battery moved to positions at Verbrandenmolen on the 39th Divisional front and provided fire support in the advance towards Hollebeke. The Battery provided fire support but the artillery were also the recipients of counter-battery fire from German artillery and attacks from enemy aircraft resulting in casualties amongst the gunners. James was a victim of this counter-battery fire.

Medals Awarded

Medal Index Card Gunner James Brown