MY WAR DEAD
BROWN, John - died 31st October 1918.
John Brown, who was also known at times as John Keys, was born in St Pancras, London, in April or May 1892, being the 5th of 7 children born to Mary Brown and Thomas James Keys; despite the size of their family, Thomas and Mary never married. John's birthdate is uncertain as several dates have been cited in different records and it seems likely that his parents lied to the registrar in order to avoid a possible fine.
John attended a Roman Catholic infants school in Somers Town, St Aloysius, for a time but his father died following a bad accident in June 1898 and John found himself firstly in the workhouse and subsequently placed under the care of the St Pancras Board of Guardians. He remained under the supervision of the Guardians until April 1910, spending time at schools designated by them, firstly at North Hyde and later at Mill Hill.
John had almost certainly joined the army before the start of the First World War. He has not been found in the 1911 census but his medal record indicates that his Great War service dated from 14th August 1914; accordingly, he qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. He is known to have served with the 2nd Battalion, Connaught Rangers, which force was in Aldershot in August 1914, but embarked for France almost immediately upon the commencement of hostilities, arriving at Boulogne on 14th August. The battalion suffered early and heavy losses and was absorbed into the 1st Battalion of the regiment in December 1914; it continued to serve on the Western Front until December 1915.
In December 1915, the 1st Battalion, Connaught Rangers, was transferred to Mesopotamia, arriving there on 10th January 1916. It is presumed that John continued to serve throughout this time and up to October 1918 when he became ill with malaria and was probably hospitalised in Alexandria. John died of malaria on 31st October 1918, aged 26 and having survived almost the entire war. He is buried in the Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. The Register of Soldiers' effects records that he left his belongings to a sister, named as Annie Newton.
Two of John's brothers, Thomas and Edward, also served in the First World War, both surviving the conflict though both being wounded. John's 1st cousin, my grandfather William Percy Brown, also served and survived.
John Brown was my 1st cousin, twice removed.