John William Brown

Corporal

Conflict:

WW2

Additional Information:

Son of John and Annie Stonestreet Brown, of Brooklyn, Wellington, New Zealand.

References:

CWGC

BDM Online

NZ WAR GRAVES

Biographical Notes:

“The following New Zealand Expeditionary Force casualties are officially announced:—
…
Private lan Sutherland Holms, killed in England as a result of enemy air action. His father is Mr A. C. Holms, Waipukurau.
…
Death While on Leave
Corporal J. W. Brown. Wellington, killed by a bomb while on leave in London.

A message from the official war correspondent in Britain, dated October 28, and dealing with the casualties in England, states that one soldier killed in his billet and two others in the same room were wounded when an enemy aeroplane, turned from its course by anti-aircraft fire, jettisoned its bombs over south-eastern England. The men were just going to bed in the loft of a brick farm building. The bomb fell eight or 10 yards from the foot of the wall against which, on the oilier side, their Blankets were spread. It burst upwards and outwards, and the fragments tore a way through the double bricks.
This was the first death from enemy action of a New Zealand soldier while on duty in England [Private Ian Holmes], although the second from enemy action while on active service in England [Corporal John Brown].
Corporal Brown was killed by a bomb while on leave in London last week. His body was brought back for burial.” [Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23165, 31 October 1940, Page 8]

Public Contributions:

Submitted by: Clare Dickson

Relationship to casualty: None

War file record gives date of birth as 4 Aug 1913. [Record since amended - NZWGT]

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Casualty

Service Number:

30606

Name:

John William Brown

Name variation:

John William Tuamini Brown (BDM Online)

Rank:

Corporal

Date of Birth:

04 August 1913

Place of Birth:

New Zealand

Next of Kin:

Mrs A.S. Brown (mother), 3 Boston Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand

Date of Enlistment:

Not known

Enlistment Address:

16 Portland Crescent, Wellington, New Zealand

Occupation on Enlistment:

Storeman

Unit:

New Zealand Infantry

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Date of Death:

19 October 1940

Day of Death:

Saturday

Age at Death:

Conflict:

WW2

Embarkation Details

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery:

Maidstone Cemetery, Kent

Cemetery Reference:

Plot C.C.1. Grave 26.

Cemetery Location:

United Kingdom