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1897. Born on 24th December at Nowra, New South Wales, Thomas Britton Brown was
the son of Henry Brown and his wife, Christina Brown (née Britton).
1916-1919. Thomas Brown enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in May 1916. At the
time, his civilian occupation was Electroplater and he was living in the Sydney suburb of
Cronulla. He was posted as a Driver in the 4th Divisional Ammunition Column (6th
Reinforcements).
He embarked at Sydney for war service in September 1916
and after some five months of training in England embarked
for service on the Western Front. Upon his arrival in northern
France in March 1917 Thomas Brown was transferred to the
1st Divisional Ammunition Column near the village of Fricourt in the Somme Department.
The column, which was an artillery unit, was primarily responsible for the delivery of
artillery ammunition and infantry small arms ammunition by means of horse-driven
wagons to units of the division.
At the time Thomas Brown joined it, the 1st
Divisional Ammunition Column took part in the
pursuit of German forces to the Hindenburg Line
where that defensive position passed through
the village of Bullecourt in the Pas-de-Calais
Department. In September, October and
November 1917 the column took part in the
Third Battle of Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium.
In April 1918 the column was took part in halting
the German offensive in the Hazebrouck area of
the Nord Department, northern France and in
August 1918 took part in the Battle of Amiens.
The column continued once again as part of the
final advance to the Hindenburg Line, near St
Quentin in the Aisne Department, northern
France.
Thomas Brown embarked in England in March
1919 for return to Australia and his discharge
from the AIF.
Inter-war years. Thomas Brown resided in the
Sydney suburb of Marrickville and continued his
civilian occupation as an Electroplater. In 1924
he married Dorothea Seiton.
In May 1930 Thomas Brown became a member of the 14th Field Artillery Brigade
(Militia) in which he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in February 1932. He had a
break in service between April 1936 and October 1939 then was re-appointed as a
Lieutenant in the same brigade. He was still serving in the brigade in March 1940 when
he re-enlisted in the AIF for further war service.
1940-1945. Upon re-enlistment, Thomas Brown was posted to the 2/5th Field Regiment
as a Lieutenant and was promoted to Captain in February 1941 while taking part in the
North African campaign. In December 1941 he was awarded a Mention in Despatches.
Promoted to Major in June 1943, Thomas Brown served with the 2/5th Field Regiment in
the 1943 Salamaua - Lae and Finisterre Range campaigns in New Guinea. He returned
with his regiment to Australia in January 1944 and transferred to the Reserve of Officers
in January 1945. He was formally retired from the Australian Army in July 1951.
1984. Thomas Britton Brown was still residing in Marrickville when he passed away on
12 March 1984 aged 86. His wife pre-deceased him.
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