Pte 114148 George Henry Brown

• Age: 30
• From: Grimston, Yorkshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• Died Wednesday 6th November 1918
• Commemorated at: Archangel Allied Cemetery
  Panel Ref: B4

George Henry Brown was born in 1888 in Grimston, Yorkshire, the fourth child and eldest son of Thomas Brown, a farmer, and his wife Maria (nee Maltby). His parents had married in 1882 and in 1891 were living in Grimston.

The 1891 Census shows that George's father Thomas was an agricultural labourer and that his wife, Maria, had a 10 year old daughter, named as Sarah A. Maltby, as well as three children with Thomas, including George who was then 3 years old.

By 1901 they had six children of their own but Sarah is not named.

In 1911, Thomas and Maria live with five of their nine children at Cottage Farm, Osbaldswick, Yorkshire while George Henry is shown at a nearby farm run by Samuel Border, a merchant farmer, for who George is working as a groom.

Military records show that George first served as Private 61156 with the Northumberland Fusiliers before serving with 17^th KLR as Private 114148.

His Medal Card shows that he was awarded the BWM and VM, suggesting that he did not see service abroad until 1916 at the earliest. It is possible that he was transferred to 17th KLR as a replacement for their service in Russia.

We know that after arriving at Archangel at the end of October 1918, the 4 companies of the 17^th were billeted during the first week in November 1918 and it is ironic that a mere 2 or 3 days later George Henry Brown died in hospital of pneumonia.

He now rests at Archangel Allied Cemetery, Grave B4.

During both world wars, Archangel was one of the ports through which the Allies assisted Russia with supplies and munitions. The cemetery was begun immediately after the occupation of the town in August 1918 by the Allied force sent to support the Soviet Russian Government against potential threat from German occupied Finland and other local sources. It was used by No.85 General Hospital, No.53 Stationary Hospital, No.82 Casualty Clearing Station, HM Hospital Ship 'Kalyan' and other Allied hospitals. 

ARCHANGEL ALLIED CEMETERY contains 224 burials and commemorations of the First World War, including special memorials to 140 officers and men with known burials in cemeteries elsewhere in northern Russia. Two of the burials are unidentified. The cemetery also contains 7 Second World War burials. The ARCHANGEL MEMORIAL, which consists of panels fixed into the east wall of the cemetery, commemorates 219 British officers and men who died during the north Russian campaign and whose graves are not known.

Soldiers Register of Effects shows that monies due to him were paid to his father Thomas and Probate Records show an entry for 15^th April 1920 to the effect that administration of his estate valued at £127 was granted to his father. 

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