L/140459 Lance-Corporal Charles Frederick Henry Brown of the 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment was killed in action 100 years ago today on the 14th October 1914. He was born in Clapton Park and enlisted at Enfield on the 17th April 1912. He was 18 years and 5 months old at the time of his enlistment and gave his occupation as "Casual Labourer".
After nearly five months' training, Charles was posted to the 4th Battalion. He was appointed unpaid lance-corporal in July 1913 and paid lance-corporal on the 9th February 1914. His surviving service record notes that he was posted missing between the 12th and 14th October 1914 but both the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Soldiers Died in the Great War confirm his date of death as the 14th.
Charles had arrived in France with his battalion on the 13th August 1914 and to a young soldier with no overseas' service, it must have seemed like quite an adventure. Unfortunately for Charles and many others, that adventure was to be short-lived. He was overseas for just 63 days before he was killed.
On 11th November 1919, five years after his death, the record office at Hanwell sent some photos and letters to Charles's father, Mr C Brown, at 13 Cornwallis Grove, Lower Edmonton. A few months earlier, his father had completed Army Form W.5080 which listed Charles's surviving family members: no fewer than four half-brothers and eight half-sisters ranging in age from 19 to seven months.
Charles Brown has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial (pictured above, courtesy of the North Irish Horse website).
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
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