SERGEANT BROWN, V.C.

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 138, 11 June 1917, Page 3

SERGEANT BROWN, V.C.

A HEKOIO NEW ZEALANDER.

(BI TELEGRAPH.—FUESS ASSOCIATION.)

OAMARU, 10th June.

Sergfc. Donald Forrester Brown, awarded the Victoria Cross, was the third son of Mr. Robert Brown, of the Polytechnic, Oamaru. He was 26 years of age, and belonged to the North Otago Company, Second Battalion, 9th Reinforcements. He went to Egypt, leaving New Zealand in January, 1916. After a short stay in Egypt he was sent, to France, arriving at Marseilles in May, 1916 'He went straight up to Armentieres, and fell in the Somme offensive during the fierce fighting outside Ea.ucourt l'Abbaye on Ist October. At the time of enlistment, Sergt Brown was engaged in farming. He sold his farm and joined the colours. Describing the valorous deeds which earned distinction, Captain Freeman, O.C. of the company, wrote: "Owing to the shortage of officers during the operations at Armentieres, Brown virtually had command of a platoon. He was a steady and reliable man under fire in positions of danger, and by his example kept his men steady. He was always in his element in NoMan's Land, and could always be relied upon to obtain any information. He was instrumental in effecting the capture of a machine-gun." .After Sergt. "Brown's death, Lieut.Colonel G. S. Smith wrote to Mr. Brown, senior : "He died on the Somme. His great work was on 15th September and again on Ist Octobei'. During our most successful attacks on German trenches he took a German machine-gun after killing five men. If he had lived I had, hoped to recommend him at least for the .D.C.M., and he might have got the V.C. He was an excellent non-com., and much liked by hie men. I cannot speak took highly of him. He is a great loss to the battalion." He was one of a party who went into action two hundred strong, and of whom only thirty-five returned.

Sergt. Brown is another of the 530 representatives of WaitaM High School known to be Va the fighting line to win distinction. He was at the school in 1908, was a splendid footballer, and a good sport, and highly respected. Last evening a special service in honour of the late sergeant was held at the Waitaki High School In an address, Mr. F. Milner, the rector, paid a tribute to Sergt. Brown's heroism, and mentioned that eleven Waitakians had won the Military Cross, and sixteen had been mentioned in despatches. At the Columbia Presbyterian Church this morning ; where Sergt. Brown attended, special reference was made to the honour awarded the fallen soldier.