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Lot

№ 337

.

19 July 2017

Hammer Price:
£240

Three: Major C. G. Brown, Royal Garrison Artillery, formerly Honourable Artillery Company, who was Mentioned in Despatches in early 1918 whilst serving with 193rd Siege Battery

1914-15 Star (553. Gnr. C. Brown. H.A.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major C. G. Brown.) extremely fine (3) £100-140

M.I.D. London Gazette 21 May 1918.

Charles George Brown was born in Harefield, in 1885, the son of Charles and Frances Mary Elizabeth Brown of Park Place, Harefield. He was educated at the Lower School of John Lyon, Harrow, and became a surveyor and valuer in the Valuation Department of Inland Revenue. He was living at Park Place, Harefield, Middlesex, when he attested for the Honourable Artillery Company in September 1914 for 4 years’ service, having previously served with the 2nd Volunteer Battalion Middlesex Regiment. He served as Driver from 26 September 1914 and as Gunner from 13 March 1915, and first served overseas with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from 8 April 1915, in Alexandria from 21 April 1915 as Gunner with ‘A’ Battery, Honourable Artillery Company (Artillery). He served as acting Corporal without extra pay from 12 October 1915 with 'A' Ammunition Column, H.A.C., in Alexandria until hospitalised with dysentery on 11 January 1916 and admitted to 15th General Hospital (Alexandria), being transferred to Command Depot at Luxor on 3 February 1916. He returned to duty on 10 March 1916 (Alexandria) and embarked for UK for commission, on HT Northland on 28 April 1916. He transferred to HQ on 16 May 1916 and was discharged to be commissioned in the Royal Garrison Artillery Special Reserve on 30 August 1916.

Brown then served with 193rd Siege Battery, 7th Brigade, R.G.A., as Second Lieutenant (acting Captain), arriving in Boulogne on 23 November 1916. From 21 August 1917, Brown was acting Captain, Second in Command, and acting Major, commanding 193rd Siege Battery from 6 to 15 September 1917, before reverting to Second in Command. After a period of training undergoing Battery Command Course at the beginning of 1918, Brown was promoted Lieutenant on 28 February 1918, re-joined his unit in the field and was Mentioned in Despatches. In September 1918, Brown was again hospitalised with dysentery, invalided to England on 'St Denis', and admitted to 2nd London General Hospital on 7 September 1918. He married Mary Janet McMonnies on 12 October 1918 at St Augustine's, Highbury, and relinquished his commission at the end of March 1919, noting his address as Launceston Lodge, Chorleywood West, Hertfordshire. He was granted the rank of Captain on 1 April 1920. In 1939, he was a chartered surveyor for Middlesex County Council and living with his wife at 22 Kenton Park Road, Harrow, Middlesex.