AN OTAGO V.C.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1917, Page 4

AN OTAGO V.C.

SERGEANT BROWN'S fIASWEp, By, Telegraph.—Press Association. Oamaru, Last Night, Sergeant Donald Forrester Brown, who has been awarded the Victoria Cross, is the third son of Robert Brown, of the Polytechnic, Oamaru. Ho was 20 years of age and belonged to the North Otago Company, Second Battalion 9th Reinforcements. After a short stay in Egypt he was sent to Prance, and went straight up to Arnientieres. He fell in the Somme offensive during fierce fighting outside Eaucourt l'Abtaye. Describing the valorous deeds wliloh ™tve earned the distinction. Captain Freeman, O.C. of the company, wrote: Owing to the shortage of officers daring the operations at Armetttieres, Brown virtually had the command of a platoon. He was a steady, tellable «<« under fire, in positions of danger, and by his example kept, the men steady* He was always in his element in "No Man's Land," and could always be relied on to obtain any information. Htj was instrumental in effecting the oapture of a machine gun." After Sergeant Brown's death, Lieut.Colonel G. S. Smith wrote to Mr. Brown, senior: "He did some great work on September 15, and again on October 1, during the most successful attacks on the German trenches. took a Gorman machine-gun after killing five menIf he had lived I had hoped to Mcommend him at least for the D.C.M., and he might have got the V.C. H» yr»i an excellent non-com, aßd much liked by the men. I cannot speak too highlv of him. He is a great loss to the "battalion, and his name will never be forgotten. It is now added to the long list of men who have made the supreme' iracriflce.'' '

A lotter received from Sergt. Brown, written two doys before his death, describes the Sommo offensive, and iww a few 1 days before the letter was written .1 he was one of a party who -want into ' action two hundred strong, and of whom only thirty-five returned.

The following is a copy of the official recommendation for the recognition:—' 8/3504 "Sergeant Donald Forrester Brown, for bravery. He rushed a ma-chino-gun which was fully manned, and killed four of the crew himself. I regret to state that he was killed l)alf an hour later."

Sergeant Brown is another of the fl?e hundred and thirty representative of the Waitaki High School known to bo in the fighting line, to win distinction. Ho was a splendid footballer and good sport, and highly respected by the Motor and his mates and fellow to wot' people. Last night a special service in honor of tho late sergeant was held at the Waitaki High School, and an address delivered by F. Milner, the rector, who, after, paying a tribute to Brown's heroism, mentioned that eleven Waltakiani hnd won the Military Cross and. sixteen had been mentioned in despatches. At Columba. Presbytery Church this morn* intf._ where Sergeant Brown attended, special reference was made to the honor awarded to the fallen soldier.