Canada. A Memorial Cross to Private James Brown, Killed in Action at the Battle of the Scarpe

Canada; George V (793496 Pte J.H. BROWN). Sterling silver, marked "STERLING" and hallmarked "R" on the reverse, on a replacement ribbon, light contact, near extremely fine.

 

Footnote: James Harold Brown was born on March 9, 1896 in Newcastle, Northumberland County, New Brunswick, the son of William Harold Brown and Lena Reid Brown. He was a resident of Campbellton, New Brunswick when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (793496) with the 132nd Infantry Battalion "North Shore Battalion", on January 25, 1915 in Campbellton, at the age of 19, naming his next-of-kin as his father, William H. Brown of Campbellton, stating that he belonged to an Active Militia, that he was not married, that his religion was Presbyterian and that his trade was that of Labourer. The Battalion was raised in Northern New Brunswick with mobilization headquarters at Chatham under the authority of G.O. 151, December 22, 1915. The Battalion sailed October 26, 1916 aboard the S.S. Corsican, with Brown being appointed Corporal upon departure, the Battalion under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel G.W. Mersereau with a strength of 32 officers and 809 other ranks, arriving in England on November 5th. Five weeks after arriving in England, he was transferred to the 104th Infantry Battalion on December 8, 1916 and reverted to the permanent grade of Private upon transfer. He was awarded one Good Conduct Badge on December 23, 1917. The following Spring, Brown was struck off strength to the 13th Reserve Battalion on March 2, 1918. One month later, he was struck off strength of the 13th Reserve Battalion on proceeding overseas to the 26th Infantry Battalion on April 4, 1918, arriving at the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp on April 7th. He left for his new unit in the field on June 20, 1918, joining the 26th Infantry Battalion in the field on June 21st. 793496 Private James Harold Brown, 26th Infantry Battalion was Killed in Action on August 28, 1918 during the Battle of the Scarpe, part of the Hundred Days Offensive, at the age of 22.

 

The Battle of the Scarpe took place over a three day period, from August 26th to the 28th. His death was recorded on a Circumstances of Death Registry Card: "This soldier was hit in the abdomen by an enemy bullet, and died shortly afterwards.", his death taking place east of Fontaine-lès-Croisilles (a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France). Private Brown is buried in Sun Quarry Cemetery, Pas De Calais, France, Plot: C. 25. and is commemorated on page 375 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. The 26th Infantry Battalion incurred substantial losses on August 27th and 28th, including: three officers (one of which was the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel A.E.G. McKenzie, who was posthumously awarded a bar to his Distinguished Service Order) and 70 other ranks Killed in Action, with ten officers and 240 other ranks wounded. For his First World War service, Private Browm was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, which were forwarded to his father, William of Campbellton, New Brunswick, along with his Memorial Plaque and Scroll. His mother, Lena of Vancouver, British Columbia, received his Memorial Cross. In his Will, dated October 24, 1916, he bequeathed all his personal estate to his father, William.