Serjeant 32872 James Bernard Brown

• Age: 40
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 2/4 S LANCS REG 17th Btn
• Died on Friday 27th September 1918
• Commemorated at: Vis En Artois Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 7

James Bernard Brown was born on 10th October 1877 at 56 Low Wood Street, Liverpool and was baptised the 26th August 1878 at St Jude's Church, Liverpool. He was the son of Charles Brown and his wife Amelia (nee Ronger). 

On the 1871 Census the family are living at 30 King St, Hull.

Father Charles is aged 26, a cabinet maker b.Germany, mother Amelia is aged 22 b.Bremen, son Charles is aged 6mths b.Hull. 

The 1881 Census finds the family living at 82 Toxteth Street, Liverpool.

James is three years of age, his father is shown as Carl a 36 year old cabinet maker who was born in Germany, his mother Amelia is 33 years of age and was also born in Germany. He has three siblings, Charles aged 11 and Amelia 10 who were both born in Hull and Minnie aged 2 who was born in Liverpool.

His mother died later in 1881 aged 32.  

His family and early life beyond 1881 has not yet been traced. 

Charles remarried to Caroline Jackson on the 10th Jan 1886 at St Nicholas, Liverpool. He was a 38 year old cabinet maker, father Charles deceased, whilst Caroline was aged just 22, father John, both of Union Street. They went on to have six children, Caroline, Walter, Sarah, Frederick, Ethel and Emily. In 1911 at 5 Upper the census states Charles was born in Bremerhaven. Caroline died aged 49 in 1915 and on son Frederick’s marriage in 1920, Charles was deceased. He possibly died aged 74 in 1917. 

James Brown’s service record survives, fortunately, as his wife, in correspondence with Infantry Records, provides his regimental number for his previous service with the K.L.R. The service number 5379 corresponds with James Brown who had enlisted in Liverpool in the King’s Liverpool Regiment (Depot) on 16th July 1896 at age 18 and 11 months, occupation porter.  He is described as being 5’ 5” tall, weighing 119 lbs, with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair, and a scar on his right knee.  He gave his religion as Church of England and next of kin as father Charles, whereabouts unknown, elder brother Charles, serving in the Navy, and sister Amelia (Tolman), at 37 Clarendon Road, Liverpool.    

He was posted to the 2nd Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment on 16th October 1896.

25/5/1898 appointed L/Cpl

03/10/1898 reverted to Pte at own request. 

James served seven years with the colours, and five in the reserves. He arrived in South Africa on 16th February 1901, and earned the South Africa Medal with Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal Clasps.  A note states he also “served in 19th M.I.” in South Africa. 

He returned to England on 06th January 1903, transferred to Army Reserve on 16th July 1903, and was discharged on 15th July 1908 after completion of 12 years. 

One month after returning to England he married Margaret Devney/Devaney/Deveney (records vary) on 08th February 1903 in St. Patrick's R.C. Church, Liverpool. Their children were baptised Catholic. 

They had six children together, as well as an “adopted” daughter, Margaret Barrow, born 6/3/1901 to mother Devney. They had four sons: 

James Patrick 25/3/1904

Thomas Charles 06/02/1906

William Gerard  05/01/1907 

Leonard 15/02/1910 

The family lived at 72 Warwick Street from at least 1907.

Their address in 1911 is 72-74 Warwick Street, which appears to be a public house. James is listed as a public house manager, they have a domestic servant. James and Margaret are both 32, their sons are: James 7, Thomas 5, William 3, and Leonard 1. 

Two more children were born: Joseph Bernard on the 9th May, 1912 and a daughter Sabina on the 22nd October 1914. 

James enlisted in Knowsley on 11th May 1915, joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 27532, age 37. He gave his occupation as a publican. He was described as being 5’ 7” tall, weighing 148 lbs, and had a tattoo of Buffalo Bill on his right forearm. He gave his address as 7 Elliot Street, Liverpool (where he managed the St. John’s Hotel). 

18/8/1915 transferred to (21st Reserve) Bn K.L.R.

07/02/1916 appointed unpaid L/Cpl

12/02/1916 promoted L/Cpl

15/3/1916 promoted paid L/Sjt

28/6/1916 promoted Sjt

01/9/1916 transferred to (67) Training Reserve

20/5/1917 transferred to 2/1st Cheshire Yeomanry 

His medical record shows he was classified Category C1 but in September 1918 was classified by the Medical Board as Category A. 

He embarked for France on 15th September 1918, with 1/5th Bn Cheshire Reg.

17/9/1918 Base Depot, Rouen

20/9/1918 transferred & posted to 2/4th S. Lancs Reg.

22/9/1918 joined Battalion in the field 

Just five days later James was killed in action, on 27th September 1918, aged 40, during the Hundred Day Offensive. 

Liverpool Evening Express 19th October 1918 

Killed in Action. 

BROWN – Sept. 27, killed in action, Sergeant James Brown, South Lancs (late Pals), the beloved husband of Margaret Brown, No. 40, Darnley Street. (Loved by all who knew him.) Before joining His Majesty's Forces he was employed managing St John's Hotel, Elliott Street for Messrs. Robert Cain and Sons. (Sadly missed by his loving wife and six children.)  

Sleep on dear James in a soldier’s grave,  

Your life for your country you gave;  

We could not be near you to say goodbye, 

But safe in God's keeping you there lie. 

God called him home it was His will, 

But why so young we wonder still; 

A loving brother so true and kind, 

No one on earth like him we'll find.  

·         From his loving sister and brother-in-law, and all at 41 and 43 Warwick Street South. 

James has no know grave and is commemorated on the Vis en Artois Memorial, France.

The Vis en Artois Memorial bears the names of over 9,000 men who fell in the period from 8 August 1918 to the date of the Armistice in the Advance to Victory in Picardy and Artois, between the Somme and Loos, and who have no known grave.

The memorial was designed by J.R. Truelove, with sculpture by Ernest Gillick. It was unveiled by the Rt. Hon. Thomas Shaw on 4 August 1930.

A notice appeared in the Liverpool Echo, but not until on the 9th December 1918: 

“Sergt. James Brown, S. Lancs. Regiment (late Pals) was killed in action on September 27.  Prior to joining up the Colours in 1915 he was employed by Messrs. R. Cain and Sons as manager of St. John’s Hotel, Elliot Street.  He leaves a widow and six children to mourn his loss.  Any information relative to his death will be welcomed by his wife, at 40, Darnley Street.” 

His British War Medal and Victory Medal were returned, and reissued. 

The pension card in the name of Margaret, 40 Darnley Street, shows she was awarded a pension of £2-4s-7d a week for six children (adopted daughter not eligible as no longer a minor). Margaret received James’ Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £21-17s-6d.   

Later living at 159 Beaufort Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, she received his Memorial Plaque and Scroll. 

In 1939 Margaret and daughter Sabina are living at 39 Gwendoline Street, Liverpool. Sabina is aged 25 and employed as a shop assistant. She died aged 69 on the 20th December 1946 at Walton Hospital.  

Probate:- 

BROWN - Margaret of 98 Lorenzo Drive, Norris Green, Liverpool 11 widow died 20 December 1946 at Walton Hospital Liverpool 9 Probate Liverpool 15 January to Janet Mcleary (wife of Alexander McCleary). Effects £175 14s 10d. 

We currently have no further information on James Bernard Brown, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us. 

Grateful thanks are extended to Simon Grimes (Ancestry) for permission to use the wonderful family photograph of James and his family, where he is wearing his South Africa Medal with Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal Clasps.