Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Suevic’ A29 for UK 6.6.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit Area No 44th Battalion.
Brown disembarked with the 44th Battalion at Plymouth UK 21.7.1916. He proceeded overseas to France with 44th Battalion 25.11.1916. His Battalion fought in the trenches on the Somme during the harsh winter of 1916/17. He transferred to 11th Infantry Brigade Headquarters 22.4.1917. He fought at Messines and Passchendaele. Brown was transferred sick to hospital in France with exhaustion and a problem left leg 15.10.1917. With continuing problems with his left leg and diagnosed cellulitis, he was transferred by Hospital Ship ‘St Andrew’ to England 4.10.1917. He was admitted to the Royal Nettley Hospital. Brown was discharged as fit for active service to Hurdcott 14.11.1917. Mentioned in Despatches 7.11.1917 for gallant service and devotion to duty at Messines, Passchendaele and the Somme. Marched in to Overseas Training Brigade Hurdcott. He proceeded overseas to France 21.2.1918 and rejoined his unit. He was promoted to Corporal 22.2.1918. Brown was transferred to the Cadet Battalion and promoted to Temporary Sergeant 14.12.1918. He was awarded Meritorious Service Medal 18.1.1919. On demobilisation, he was returned to England for return to Australia.
Embarked for Australia per ‘Konigin Louise’ 21.6.1919.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 13.8.1919.
Discharged 17.9.1919.
Final Rank Temporary Sergeant, 11th Infantry Brigade HQ.
Medical Condition NK
Awards and Medals Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Award British War Medal, Victory Medal. Mentioned in Despatches for gallant conduct

‘For continuous good service and devotion to duty;
Corporal Brown has been Confidential Clerk Brigade Head Quarters since Feb 1917 and during this period he had to deal with operation orders calling for the exercise of the greatest amount of care in compiling.
His work has been such as to call for great attention to details, at times, under very trying circumstances.
Cpl Brown has rendered excellent services during the operations of Messines, June 1917 and on the Somme July, August, September 1918’.
(Recommendation in NAA Service Record)

Photos HMAT 'Suevic'. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM A0321
             Messines, showing winter trenches 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E012
             Zonnebeke, First Battle of Passchendaele. Photographer unknown, photographer sourced AWM E01200

Information Source
AWM A0321. HMAT 'Suevic'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the PIctorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E0128. Messines, showing winter trenches 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E01200. Zonnebeke, First Battle of Passchendaele. Photographer unknown, photographer sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll- Audrey Ralph Thomas Brown
Australian War Memorial Honours and Awards- Aubrey Ralph Thomas Brown
Guildford Grammar School Honour Rol
uildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455 Brown Aubrey Ralph Thomas 670
St Matthew’s Honour Roll



32 Mount Street, Perth. WA (Postal address)
Middle Swan (Childhood home)
Railway Terrace, West Guildford, WA (Mother’s address)

Associated Images