270th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (British Army)
Died:
01/07/1917 (Died of Wounds)
Age:
22
Summary
William Brown was the son of Robert Brown. William was born in Moneymore about 1895. A month after war broke out, on 6th July 1914, William Brown enlisted in Cookstown on the Garrison Artillery Gunner Brown was for a considerable time in Malta. He then volunteered for service with the Field Artillery and was transferred, and had been in service in France for several months. On 1st July 1917, Gunner William Brown was working at his post at the gun, which was just about to fire, when a shell burst close by. He was severely injured and was sent him off by motor car to 134th Field Ambulance Gunner William Brown, of the 270th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery, died of his wounds later that day
Further Information
William Brown was the son of Robert Brown. William was born in Moneymore about 1895.
William was a member of Knockinroe L.O.L. No. 191
A month after war broke out, on 6th July 1914, William Brown enlisted in Cookstown on the Garrison Artillery
Gunner Brown was for a considerable time in Malta. He then volunteered for service with the Field Artillery and was transferred, and had been in service in France for several months.
Whilst serving in France, on 1st July 1917, Gunner William Brown was working at his post at the gun, which was just about to fire, when a shell burst close by.
He was severely injured and was sent him off by motor car to 134th Field Ambulance.
Gunner William Brown, of the 270th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery, died of his wounds later that day. He was 22 years old.
The Siege Batteries lost a total of 35 men between them on 1st July, 280th (5 men); 262nd (8 men) and 270th (7 men) sustaining multiple casualties, accounting for 27 out of the 35 casualties.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 26th July 1917:
Gunner William Brown, Royal Garrison Artillery, Tullyhogue, killed in action
From the Tyrone Courier dated Thursday 9 August 1917:
Mr Robert Brown, Tullyhogue, has just received intimation that his son, Gunner William Brown, of the Royal Garrison Artillery, was killed on 1st July last through shell wounds received in action. The deceased who was 22 years of age, was a member of Knockinroe L.O.L. No. 191. A month after war broke out, on 6th July 1914, he enlisted on the Garrison Artillery, and was for a considerable time in Malta. He volunteered for service with the Field Artillery and was transferred, and had been in France for several months. Major H D Coleman, commanding the deceased’s battery, writing on 4th July to his father says:-
‘It is with the greatest regret that I write to offer you our deepest sympathies in the loss of your son, who gave his life for King and country in 1st July 1917. He was working bravely at his post at the gun, which was just about to fire, when a shell burst close by. We rescued him and sent him off by motor car to 134th Field Ambulance, where he died shortly afterwards. We all feel his loss deeply, especially amongst his comrades, where he was so popular and keen to do his duty.’
William Brown is commemorated on Cookstown Cenotaph and St Anne's Church of Ireland War Memorial in Ardtrea, just outside Cookstown
