First and Second World War Medal Group – Company Quartermaster Sergeant Arthur John Brown, M.M. – 455th (1st West Riding) Field Company, Royal Engineers
Group of Nine:
Military Medal - 476050 CPL A. BROWN. 455 / W. RID: F. COY R.E. - T.F. ('F.' scratched off due to error)
1914-15 Star - 750. SPR. A. F. BROWN. R.E.
British War Medal - 750. SJT. A. F. BROWN. R.E.
Victory Medal – 750. SJT. A. F. BROWN. R.E.
1939-45 Star - (unnamed as issued)
Africa Star with North Africa 1942-43 Bar - (unnamed as issued)
Defence Medal - (unnamed as issued)
War Medal - (unnamed as issued)
French Croix de Guerre - (unnamed as issued)
(note: officially recorded as Frederick, but newspapers and other records confirm his true middle name was John, leading him to scratch off the incorrect “F” initial on the Military Medal)
Arthur John Brown (1895–1946) was born on 16th September 1895, the son of Charles William Brown and Annie Maria Brown of Shipley, Yorkshire. He lived at 41 George Street, Saltaire, and is frequently referred to in local newspapers during the war.
He enlisted into the Royal Engineers (No. 750), later renumbered 476050, and served as a Sapper and later Sergeant with the 455th (1st West Riding) Field Company, Territorial Force. His unit formed part of the 29th Division, landing at Sedd-el-Bahr, Gallipoli on 25th April 1915. He later served in France. His Medal Index Card confirms entry into Egypt on 30th March 1915.
For his First World War service, Sergeant Brown was awarded two Gallantry Awards:
Military Medal – Awarded for gallantry in action, announced London Gazette 17th April 1917. The War Diary of the 455th Field Company confirms the award of the M.M. to Corporal Arthur Brown in March 1917. He was also mentioned several times in the Company’s war diaries during the conflict.
Croix de Guerre (France) – Awarded and announced in the London Gazette of 17th June 1919.
Newspaper Reports
Shipley Times and Express, Friday 12 May 1916
DARDANELLES HERO MARRIES.
The marriage took place on Tuesday, at the Registry Office, Bradford, of Corporal Arthur John Brown, Royal Engineers, of George Street, Saltaire, and Miss Annie Harris, Victoria Rd., Saltaire. The bridegroom fought on the Gallipoli Peninsular, and has spent the last two months at the Front in France. He was married at 9 a.m. and at 10.25 a.m. left Bradford for the Continent with the best wishes of his many friends, that he might have good luck and a safe return.
Shipley Times and Express, Friday 16 March 1917
SHIPLEY.
Sapper Arthur Brown, Royal Engineers, of George St., Saltaire, has been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in action. Sapper Brown is twenty-five years of age, and he has seen service both on the Gallipoli Peninsula and in France.
Shipley Times and Express, Friday 27 December 1918
SECOND DISTINCTION FOR A GALLIPOLI HERO.
Sergt. A. J. Brown, Royal Engineers, of 41, George St., Saltaire, has been informed that he has won the Croix de Guerre. He was awarded the Military Medal in 1917. A letter from his major, received on Saturday, says: — “Your distinctions are small compared with your record in the Army. The officers of our section send their congratulations.” Sergt. Brown is one of the survivors of the 29th Division who landed at Sedd-el-Bahr, Gallipoli, on April 25th, 1915. He is now lying ill in the Tunbridge Wells Hospital, Kent.
Second World War Service
Arthur Brown reenlisted on 10th April 1940 as 1894689 Company Quartermaster Sergeant A. J. Brown, M.M., Royal Engineers. He served with the 803rd Road Construction Company, R.E. His WW2 service included:
Iceland – March 1941 to November 1941
North Africa – January 1943 until his return to the UK in January 1944, where he was admitted to hospital on 11th January 1944.
Company Quartermaster Sergeant Arthur John Brown, M.M., died on 11th October 1946, aged 53. He is registered with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), which records both his Military Medal and Croix de Guerre. He is commemorated on a memorial to those cremated at Bradford Crematorium.
A rare and highly complete group to a Gallipoli landing veteran and twice-decorated hero of the Royal Engineers, who went on to serve again in the Second World War.
A NOTE ON THE MIDDLE NAME DISCREPENCY:
Arthur’s middle name was ‘John’, not ‘Frederick’ as stated on all the First World War records. The next of kin address and dates of awards line him up with “Arthur John Brown” mentioned throughout the war in local newspapers and it is worth noting again the ‘F’ on Military Medal has been scratched off. This clearly done by Arthur to remove the mistake but then he hasn’t bothered with the other medals.
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AJMS Medals