Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The outstanding Great War D.C.M., M.M. and Two Bar group of five awarded to Chief Petty Officer William Brown, R.N.V.R., Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division; a unique group of gallantry awards to the Royal Navy

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (Tyne Z 618 C.P.O. W. Brown. Hood: Bn: R.N.V.R.); Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second and Third Award Bars (TZ-618 A.S. W. Brown. Hood Bn: R.N.V.R.); 1914-15 Star (TZ. 618. W. Brown. A.B. R.N.V.R.); British War and Victory Medals (T.Z. 618 W. Brown. C.P.O. R.N.V.R.) mounted as worn; together with Northumberland and Albert Edward Dock Employees Tribute Medal, ‘War Service 1914-18’, 9 carat gold, hallmarked Chester 1918, ‘Presented to W. Brown, M.M. & 2 Bars. D.C.M.’, with rings for suspension, nearly extremely fine (6) £25000-30000

M.M. London Gazette 26 March 1917.

Tyne Z 618 Petty Officer Brown, Wm. R.N.V.R. “On the 3rd-5th Feb. 1917 in the attack on Puisieux trench, showed great presence of mind and courage in getting together a fresh Lewis gun crew from reserves in different parts of the line to take place of one which had been wiped out. This proved to be of valuable service in repelling counter attacks.” (Ref. WO 95/3115 ‘Actions for which medals were awarded to N.C.O’s and men of the Hood Battalion on operations north of The Ancre February, 1917’)

Bar to M.M. London Gazette 9 July 1917.

2nd Bar to M.M. London Gazette 19 March 1918.

Recommended for Immediate award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal: “On the 30th Dec. 1917 in the attack on Welsh Ridge, P.O. Brown was in the support line which was heavily barraged, small parties of the enemy had penetrated down the communications trench past hero, and the enemy was pressing heavily, driving our bombers slowly back. P.O. Brown with great initiative, collected a few men, and pushed to the assistance of the bombers who encouraged by his example, attacked with great vigour and after severe fighting, in which P.O. Brown displayed conspicuous courage, the enemy was entirely ejected from our line, retreating in disorder, and suffering casualties from our rifle and Lewis gun fire.” (Ref. ADM 137/3064 Hood Bn. War Diary)

The following extract is taken from the Hood Battalion War Diary for 7.30 a.m. on 30 December 1917:

‘Sub. Lieut. Weir at once organised the “C” Company platoon into a large bombing squad and led by Petty Officer Brown of “B” Coy, it bombed up the top until the supply of bombs ran out, the Germans having a large supply of stick bombs and egg bombs carried bt men in tight order temporarily forced them to give ground. A supply of bombs was then organised by Lt. Mandsley from the support company and the party was then able to again bomb up the trench. At this point Sub-Lt. Price of “B” Coy was wounded and Sub-Lt. Sanford O.C. “A” Coy.

During the enemy bombing attack two German officers reached our “B” Coy Hqrs at Regt 68. These were met at the head of the dug-out by A.B. Brown “B” Coy officers’ cook who threw a mills bomb at them killing one and wounding the other. The party was at this time able to bomb up, right up Ostrich Trench and up to the supply head.’

D.C.M. London Gazette 18 February 1919; citation London Gazette 10 January 1920:

“On the 29th September 1918 in the attack west of the Escaut Canal when the company was held up and the officer wounded, this Chief Petty Officer took command of a platoon and by skilful leadership captured a machine gun, and then turned the machine gun on the enemy inflicting heavy casualties. He displayed fearless and able leadership.”

William Brown was born on 7 April 1892, at Percy Main, Northumberland. He joined the Tyneside Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 23 October 1914, his trade being a coal-teamer. He served in Gallipoli until May 1916, and afterwards in France, being demobilised on 7 February 1919.

In April 1920 he received one of 158 solid gold medals made for presentation to ‘War Heroes’ employed by the Tyne Improvement Commission at the Albert Edward and Northumberland Docks. Full details of the ‘Welcome Home’ and presentation of medals at North Shields was reported in Shields Daily News, full details of which accompany the group together with detailed research and an R.N.D. cap tally.