Canada. The First War Medals of Desmond & Vincent Brown, 19th Infantry & CMGB
Sergeant Edward Desmond Brown, 180th Infantry Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Brigade: British War Medal (863162 SJT. E.D. BROWN. C.M.G. BDE.); and Victory Medal (863162 SJT. E.D. BROWN. C.M.G. BDE.). Private Vincent Joseph Brown, York & Simcoe Foresters Construction Canadian Forestry Corps, 19th Infantry Battalion: British War Medal (249894 PTE. V.J. BROWN. 19-CAN.INF.); and Victory Medal (249894 PTE. V.J. BROWN. 19-CAN.INF.). Naming is officially impressed, with Vincent Brown's service number missing a digit (2498494) versus his service records. Each pair is mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, as worn by the veteran, gilt wear and spotting on the VMs, contact marks, very fine.
Footnote: Edward Desmond Brown was born on December 19, 1883 in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Edward Brown and Mary Brown. He was a resident of Toronto when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (863162) with the 180th Infantry Battalion "Sportsmen Battalion", on April 27, 1916 in Toronto, at the age of 32, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Mary Brown of Toronto, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was not married, that his religion was Roman Catholic and that his trade was that of Dry Goods Buyer. The Battalion was raised and mobilized in Toronto, Ontario under the authority of G.O. 69, July 15, 1916. The Battalion sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Olympic, on November 14, 1916 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel R.H. Greer with a strength of 31 officers and 833 other ranks, arriving in England on the 20th. Seven weeks after arriving in England, he was transferred to the 3rd Reserve Battalion on January 6, 1917 and posted to the Canadian Machine Gun Depot at Crowborough on January 11th. The 180th Infantry Battalion was later absorbed into the 1st Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps. Private Brown was assigned to the Machine Gun Pool for service in the French theatre on April 18, 1917, arriving at the Machine Gun Pool in Camiers on April 20th. He was struck off strength to the Machine Gun Company on April 27th, joining his new unit on the 29th. Private Brown was admitted to No. 59 Divisional Rest Station on October 19, 1917, with a case of "Scabies" (not an infection, but an infestation of tiny mites called Sarcoptes scabiei, which set up shop in the outer layers of human skin. As the mites burrow and lay eggs inside the skin, the infestation leads to relentless itching and an angry rash). He was transferred the same day to No. 71 North Midland Field Ambulance, where he would receive treatment for the next week, before returning to duty on the 26th, rejoining his unit on the 30th. He was promoted to Corporal on February 22, 1918, then placed on command to the Canadian Corps Machine Gun School from June 4 to July 4, 1918. Two months later, he was appointed Acting Sergeant on August 9th, as W.A. Gammar had been wounded. One month before the end of the war, Brown was promoted to Sergeant on October 13, 1918. Sergeant Brown was admitted to No. 1 Canadian Field Ambulance with "I.C.T." (inflammation of the connecting tissue) of the thumb, on December 20, 1918 and after eleven days' treatment, was discharged from hospitalization on the 31st, rejoining his unit. He proceeded to England on March 25, 1919, where he was posted, pending return to Canada. He proceeded for home aboard HMTS Empress of Britain on April 26, 1919. Sergeant Edward Desmond Brown, 180th Infantry Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Brigade was discharged upon demobilization at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, on May 5, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France, entitled to wear the War Service Badge, Class "A", number 282184. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
His younger brother, Vincent Joseph Brown, was born on August 23, 1890, in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Edward Brown and Mary Brown. He was a resident of Toronto when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (2498494) with York & Simcoe Construction, Canadian Forestry Corps, on September 12, 1917 in Toronto, at the age of 27, naming next-of-kin as his mother, Mary Brown of Toronto, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Single, that his religion was Roman Catholic and that his trade was that of Clerk. Three weeks later, he was posted to the Railway Construction and Forestry Depot in Brockville, Ontario on October 5, 1917. Private Brown sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Metagama on December 11, 1917, arriving in England on the 18th. On month after arriving in England, he was posted to the 1st Central Ontario Regimental Depot at Witley on January 8, 1918, assigned to District 55, Canadian Forestry Corps. He was placed on command to the Canadian Forestry Corps Base Depot at Sunningdale on May 22nd, then transferred to the 3rd Reserve Battalion at Witley on June 3rd. Private Brown was transferred to the 19th Infantry Battalion at the Canadian Infantry Base Depot, for service in the French theatre, on September 12, 1918, arriving at the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp in France on September 16th. He left for the 19th Infantry Battalion in the field on the 18th and arrived with them on the 19th. Private Brown was admitted to No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance on November 16, 1918, where he was initially diagnosed with "P.U.O." (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin = fever), which was later defined as "Influenza". He was transferred to No. 4 Casualty Clearing Station the same day, then transferred and admitted to No. 7 Canadian General Hospital at Etaples on November 17th. After three days at No. 7 C.G.H., he was transferred to No. 6 Convalescent Depot at Etaples on November 20th, where he would recuperate for the next eleven days, before being discharged from hospitalization on December 1st. However, the Influenza never quite cleared his system, forcing him to return to hospital two days later. He was re-admitted to No. 7 Canadian General Hospital at Etaples on December 3rd, where he would be treated for nine days, before being transferred to No. 6 Convalescent Depot at Etaples on December 12th. The following day, he was transferred to No. 10 Convalescent Depot at Ecault on December 13th, where he would recuperate for the next eight days, before discharged from hospitalization on December 21st. He was posted to No.1 Central Ontario Regimental Depot on January 8, 1919. He ceased to be attached from the Canadian Infantry Base Depot on proceeding to Military District No. 2 at the Canadian Concentration Camp at Kinmel Park, Rhyl, North Wales, on January 31, 1919, pending return to Canada. He was struck off strength to Canada, sailing from Liverpool, England aboard His Majesty's Transport (HMT) Belgic on February 23, 1919, arriving in Halifax on March 2nd. He was posted to the Casualty Company at Exhibition Camp, No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, on March 25, 1919. Private Vincent Joseph Brown, York & Simcoe Foresters Construction, Canadian Forestry Corps, 19th Infantry Battalion was discharged upon demobilization at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, on March 28, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.