Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War M.C., M.M. group of three awarded to Second Lieutenant W. S. Brown, Wellington Regiment, late Otago Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; Military Medal, G.V.R. (8-1943 Cpl. W. S. Brown, 2/Otago R.); British War Medal 1914-20 (8/1943 2/Lt. W. S. Brown, N.Z.E.F.), together with renamed 1914-15 Star and Victory Medal 1914-19 (8-1943 2/Lt. W. S. Brown, N.Z.E.F.) some light contact marks, the Victory Medal fine; others very fine and better (5)
£600-800

M.C. London Gazette 8 March 1919 and citation published 4 October 1919:

‘For most conspicuous gallantry and skill. On 4th November, 1918, near Le Quesnoy, when an enemy machine gun threatened to check his platoon, he attacked the gun, capturing it and killing the crew. Again, near Villereau, he similarly overcame machine gun resistance. His work during the operation was most brilliant, and led in a great measure to the capture of several field guns.’

M.M. London Gazette 6 April 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘At Flers on the 16th September, when the Germans had been driving along the trench captured by us and a block was being constructed. This man organised and led a small clearing party further along the trench to protect those working on the block. He displayed great resourcefulness and courage in leading this party, and afterwards resisting bombing attacks by the enemy.’

William Symington Brown was born in Darjeeling, India, on 9 September 1894. A Clerk by occupation and living in Napier, he attested for the N.Z.E.F. at Trentham on 15 February 1915. Serving on the Western Front with the 2nd Battalion Otago Regiment he was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery in September 1916 and was wounded in action on 17 October 1917. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion Wellington Regiment on 29 June 1918, was wounded in action on 2 October 1918 and awarded the Military Cross for his bravery in action on 4 November 1918. Struck off the strength on 5 August 1919; sold with copied service papers and gazette extract.