Essex Yeomanry
Oliver Brown was born in 1890, the son of George and Mary Jane Brown, Church Road, Cinderford. He attended Double View Secondary School in the town, and afterwards worked as a haulier in one of the local collieries. He enlisted on 29 March 1915 as 2218 Gunner O Brown in the 3rd South Midland Brigade Royal Field Artillery.
He went absent without leave on 5 September 1915, and on 5 October an Army Court of Inquiry declared him a deserter.
Reconsidering his position, some time later, he re-enlisted at Colchester using the alias Harry Travers as Private 81021 Essex Yeomanry. He was mortally wounded in the cavalry charge at Monchy le Preux on 11 April 1917. Private Oliver Brown died on 15 April 1917 and was buried at Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun.
He is also commemorated on the Cinderford town War Memorial.