Donald Forrester Brown
Sergeant, 2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment, N Z E F
- Register No.
- 129 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment, N Z E F all Otago Infantry Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 15 September 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 14th July 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 23rd February 1890 at Dunedin, New Zealand
- Died
- 1st October 1916 near Eaucourt, L'Abbaye, France. (killed
- Memorial / grave
- Warlencourt British Cemetery, France and at the HQ of Dunedin RSA, New Zealand
Digest of citation
On 15th September 1916 south-east of High Wood, France, when his company had suffered very heavy casualties from machine-gun fire, Sergeant Brown, with another man, advanced to a point within 30 yards of an enemy gun, killing four of the crew and capturing the gun. When the advance of the company was again held up, Sergeant Brown and his comrade rushed another gun and killed the crew. On a third occasion the sergeant attacked single-handed a machine gun, killed the crew and captured the gun. Later this gallant soldier was killed
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BROWN, Donald Forrester. (reg No. 129).
Sergeant 2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment, N Z E F.
London Gazetted on 14th July 1917.
Born on 23rd February 1890 at Dunedin, New Zealand.
Died on 1st October 1916 near Eaucourt, L'Abbaye, France. (killed in action).
Memorial at Warlencourt British Cemetery, France and at the HQ of Dunedin RSA, New Zealand.
Digest of Citation reads: On 15th September 1916 south-east of High Wood, France, when his company had suffered very heavy casualties from machine-gun fire, Sergeant Brown, with another man, advanced to a point within 30 yards of an enemy gun, killing four of the crew and capturing the gun. When the advance of the company was again held up, Sergeant Brown and his comrade rushed another gun and killed the crew. On a third occasion the sergeant attacked single-handed a machine gun, killed the crew and captured the gun. Later this gallant soldier was killed.
in action).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Warlencourt British Cemetery, France and at the HQ of Dunedin RSA, New Zealand
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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