David Douglas Brown (1895–1977)

David was born in 1896 at Tunstall and attended the Herbert Strutt School in Belper.

Belper News 18th June 1915
STRUTT SCHOOL OLD BOY WOUNDED
PRIVATE DAVID BROWN, CRICH
The first old boy of the Belper Strutt school to be wounded at the front is Pte. David Brown, of the Queen’s Royal Surreys. After being in four battles he took part in a bayonet charge and was stunned by the premature explosion of a star shell in the hands of one of his own officers. He is now in hospital at Boulogne. Altogether 30 old boys from the Strutt Schools are serving with the colours.

Medal Roll Index Card
He was awarded the Victory, British War and 15 Star medals.
Entered France 15/3/15
Demobbed 22/3/19

Army Service Record
Enlisted 31 August 1914 in 24th (County of London) Battalion, the London Regiment, (the Queens) aged 18 years and 11 months. His address was 59 Hamilton Road, Golders Green
and he had served with the 2nd Civil Service Cadets. Employed as a Civil Service clerk. he was 5ft 3½in tall and weighed 112lb. Next of kin David Matthew Brown, Black Swan Hotel, Crich, Nr Matlock

Notes: Simon Johnson
• Enlisted in 24th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (The Queen's), 31 August 1914 [in 1916 this was redesignated as a Territorial Battalion of The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)].
• Served in France, 15 March 1915 to 24 May 1916.
• Wounded in France, 26 May 1915.
• Transferred to Middlesex Regiment, 33rd (Works) Battalion, 31 March 1917.
• The 33rd (Works) Battalion transferred to the Labour Corps as 6th Labour Battalion, 27 April 1917.
• Appointed Acting Lance Corporal, 20 March 1918.
• Transferred to Army Reserve, 22 March 1919 - rank was Acting Lance Corporal.

Photo courtesy Janet Wagg

David Douglas Brown in later life.

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Brighton

Forename

Surname

Relationship

Age

Occupation

Where born

David M

Brown

Head

32

Lodging house keeper

Burton

Catherine

Brown

wife

30

Tunstall

David D

Brown

son

5

Tunstall

Cyril H

Brown

son

2

London

Catherine W

Brown

daughter

6 weeks

Brighton

Mauriel

Brown

daughter

8

Brighton

Annis

Hall

aunt (wdw)

67

Own means

Tunstall

RG13 piece 935 folio 43 page 26

1911: Black Swan, Crich

Forename

Surname

Relationship

Age

Occupation

Where born

David Matthew

Brown

Head

41

Inn keeper

Burton

Catherine

Brown

wife

40

Tunstall

David

Brown

son

15

Tunstall

Cyril

Brown

son

12

London

Winnifred

Brown

daughter

10

Brighton

Mauriel

Brown

daughter

8

Brighton

Hannah

Wragg

servant

15

General servant

Crich

RG14PN20983 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED12 SN29

The Black Swan on Bowns Hill Crich; the Market Place is in the distance