MY WAR DEAD
Ernest Thomas Brown was born in Kensal Rise, Middlesex, in early 1897, being the 5th of 8 children born to Henry Ernest Brown, a stonemason, and his wife who was born Lucy Murray. He was baptised at St John the Evangelist church, Kensal Green, on 4th February.
Ernest's father died in 1906, aged only 39, and in 1911, Ernest was living with his widowed mother in Catford, South London, then being described as a student aged 14 although what he was a student of is unknown.
Ernest's service record has not survived but it is known that he enlisted at Chelsea, on an unrecorded date. He subsequently served as a Private in the 7th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, seeing action in France and Flanders. He was reported 'Killed in Action' on 16th September 1916, aged 19 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Ernest was one of the tens of thousands who died during the Battle of the Somme and whose resting places are unknown. Ernest was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Ernest Thomas Brown was my 3rd cousin, twice removed.
BROWN, Ernest Thomas - died 16th September 1916.