3rd/1st South Midland Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
William Thomas Brown was born in Tewkesbury in the latter part of 1893. He was the son of John Brown (a waterman) and his wife Fanny. According to the 1911 Census the couple had nine children, of whom seven were living at the time of the census (John, William, George and Fred; Liz, Annie and Pat). At that time the family lived at Double Alley, Oldbury Road, High Street, Tewkesbury. Later their address was 3 Tivey Court, Westgate, Gloucester.
William’s occupation at the time of the census was as a farm labourer (cattle). It is not known at what point William enlisted into the Army (Soldiers Died in the Great War states that this was at Gloucester), as no Army Service Record has survived. However, it seems likely that this was in late 1914 or early 1915. The absence of a Medal Index Card is indicative that he did see any service abroad.
Having joined the third line unit of one of the South Midland Brigades of the Royal Field Artillery, William was probably one who was based at No 3 (Territorial Force) Artillery Training School, Rollastone, near Amesbury, Wiltshire, from late 1915.
Whilst there he probably fell ill and died at Fargo Military Hospital, Larkhill on 5 February 1916, aged 22. His death was the subject of a notice in the Gloucestershire Chronicle of 12 February 1916 and his funeral (held on 10 February) was reported, briefly, in the Gloucestershire Journal of 12 February. The cause of death was not reported but a recently released Pension Record Card states it was double pneumonia.
Gunner William Brown was buried in Gloucester Old Cemetery, where a standard CWGC headstone now marks his grave.
Researched by Graham Adams 30 July 2018 (revised 26 July 2021)