John Brown                            Age 33

Regimental No. 201497         Private          4th Kings Own Scottish Borderers

                                                                        155 Brigade, 52 (Lowland) Division

Died                                                                25 September 1919

Buried                                                             Benrig Cemetery, St. Boswells

 

Personal Background

John was the son of John Brown and Mary Ann, nee Robertson, and was born at Catcune, Borthwick in Midlothian.  His father may have been a ploughman when John was born but by the time of John's marriage was a tavern steward.  In February 1910, John, who was employed as a grocery delivery driver for W. Ballantyne's in the village, married Ellen Boyd, a dressmaker from Wester Muirdean, Makerstoun.   The couple lived at Paton's Buildings, St. Boswells and had four children, John, Robert, Jemima and William. 

 

Military Background

John enlisted in 1915 at the time of the "Derby" call to arms.  In due course the company was sent to Egypt, where it remained until the spring of 1918 when the hostilities in France and Belgium demanded the services of hordes of men. 

 

On 19 September 1918, fierce fighting took place when the 155 Brigade attacked Moeuvres.  The attack was successful and the village was captured, but during the night the Germans recaptured it.  At 05.00 next morning "A" company made a determined attack and reached the canal, but met with heavy opposition and were pushed back.  There were casualties - 7 men killed in the action, plus 2 men who died of wounds received.

 

Private Brown suffered a severe gunshot to the spine on this day.  On the 20 September, after treatment, he was conveyed to a military hospital in Manchester. Following some months of attention there he was conveyed to Craigleith Hospital in Edinburgh, which was some consolation for his family and friends in the Borders.  However, Private Brown's injuries were such that he did not recover, and a year after being wounded in action, he passed away.  His body was conveyed to St. Boswells and on a Sunday afternoon was laid to rest in the churchyard in the presence of a large company.  From gate to grave the coffin was borne on the shoulders of four ex soldiers belonging to the village, who had been in the same platoon and gone through the same engagements as Private Brown.