Private William Alfred Brown
868201
Born 1898, London England
Killed in Action Sept 4, 1918
Interred at TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE
“Stretcher Bearer!”
With one final brilliant dash, William followed his Lance Corporal on the attack on Boiry. The approach to the town was protected with a series of machine gun nests that were quickly set up with the raising of our guns. The men leaned into the blizzard undeterred by the torrent. The one by one, the men around him fell to the ground. A new cutting blast of lead would be emitted each time they appeared from the protections of a shell hole in the attempt to reach another. Eventually it was his turn. Like a hard right to his head, one bullet found its’ target. Tumble. Private Brown was down.
It would seem like hours passed by as lay out there. Prone out in the grass, meandering from light to dark. Watching. Waiting. But still alive and still hearing the sounds of combat as they receded into the distance. Waves of fear washed over him but then thankfully and suddenly help arrived. Stretcher bearers came to save him and bring back to the waiting ambulances. Stunned by the shock of being hit, did not overcome the realization that a greater challenge lay ahead. The bullet that entered his neck embedded itself into his spine. The year was 1918, and while the advances in medical care were significant, his prospect for mobility, let alone survival itself, were low and proved daunting for the lad.
A little over two years prior, the soldier was just William Alfred Brown. The 17 yr old boy was still but a boy. In such a short time, the young man had overcome so many challenges, more than enough to prepare him for adulthood. At the age of 14, just a few years prior William was sent to Dr Barnardos Home for British Children. It is not known who made this act of compassion and hope, however the only person on his next of kin was a sister in London. London, especially his district of Haggerston in London, was a tough, unforgiving place. Being poor and without support, his chance of living a full life was quite limited, thus the chance to be sent overseas to work on a farm was at least a chance. The children sent to Canada by Dr. Barnardos Homes were essentially indentured servants, obligated to work for free until they paid off their food, board and transportation costs. However, this chance was cut short with the announcement of war. Despite only being able to spend a few years in Canada working on a farm near the small lakeside village of Beaverton, Ontario a new opportunity was presented to him. Officers from the 182nd Battalion, reached out to local lads urging them to enlist and when presented William jumped at the chance. Maybe it was a little homesickness and the fact that he missed his sister still back in London. Either way, the underaged, 5 ft 2 boy was now a soldier in the 182nd Battalion.
With incredible rapidity, William found himself attaching his name to the Attestation Form on May 1st, 1916 in Beaverton then finding himself watching the docks of Liverpool quickly approach only 13 days later. In a series of transfers, he was sent to the 3rd Reserve battalion, then the 208th Canadian Irish for training. 8 months thereafter, Private Brown and a number of his battalion mates were sent along with a new draft to the 116th. The battalion needed more men after a catastrophic number of casualties were inflicted on it after Vimy, Hill 70 and Passchendaele. However, the waves of drafts would continue unabated with the 116th assembling a full component of soldiers for the planned fall assault on the Germans. This last push would prove to be a most deadly challenge for the 116th. Following a successful kick-off at Amiens on the 8th of August, the battalion moved onto the areas east of Arras and was ordered to take the town of Boiry-Notre-Dame. It was during this attack where the young private was hit.
For eight long days and nights, Private William Alfred Brown battled to survive. He was being cared for at the hospital at Bologne. However, the injuries proved to be too severe and he descended into a long downward spiral. There would be no recovery for the unfortunate young man with him dying of wounds on September 4th, 1918. His was another life of promise and opportunity cut short by the war.
Lest we forget.