Frank Brown was born 12th August, 1897 at 191, Moorside Road, Swinton, Lancashire and the eldest of five children to William Brown and Emma (Chapman).

The 1901 census revealed they had moved a short distance away to 27, Ellesmere Street, Swinton. Form there they moved to 68, Mount Street, Flint before settling at 19, Mount Street, by which time Frank was employed as a stamper at the Oakenholt Paper Mill. He was later employed at the Mercerisers Silk Factory, Holywell Road. He was unmarried.

Frank enlisted in Flint on 23rd September, 1914 and his service record is as follows: embarked on HM Troopship “Caledonia” (see Lt T Bate for photo) 14th July, 1915 for Gallipoli; sick in hospital in Gallipoli, 30th November, 1915; in a Cairo hospital suffering from frostbite, 3rd December, 1915; re-joined battalion for duty, 8th January, 1916; deprived of 10 days pay for not complying with an order in Egypt, 22nd May, 1916; granted Class 2 Proficiency Pay, 27th September, 1916; in a Field hospital suffering from scabies, 5th May, 1917; re-joined battalion for duty, 21st May, 1917. In March 1918 his parents were sent his identity disc from the Infantry Records Office, Shrewsbury, and in June 1919 they received from the following: 1 devotional book, 1 diary, a letter & 4 buttons. On enlistment he was 5ft 7ins tall, 10st 2lbs, chest 33ins, had a fresh complexion, grey eyes and light hair.

Private Brown wrote a welcomed letter home, under date of August 17th, 1915, which read:- After the landing of the Battalion on the Gallipoli shores he states that it was marched to the firing line; and in allusions to the fighting he stated that Colonel Philips, Major Head, and other officers were killed, and others wounded, whilst he believed that the total casualties in killed and wounded amongst the Battalion were rather heavy. He mentioned that the Turkish snipers had been very busy amongst the men of the Battalion, the men of which have since become entrenched. The men had been in the trenches several days; had afterwards been resting; and were returning to relieve others in the trenches at the time of writing.

In Octobe,r 1915 amongst the letters which were received from the soldiers at the Dardanelles was one from Frank. His friends were glad to hear that he was quite well, it was reported. The men of the Battalion at the time he wrote were practically resting, but were engaged in fatigue duty. The men had had payments made to them.

Private Brown died from wounds received in action in Egypt on 7th November, 1917 and was buried in the Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel (Plot A, Grave 52).

He is remembered on two war memorials: Flint Town and St Mary’s Parish Church, Flint.

He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Frank’s father, William, was born in Swinton, Lancashire in c1875 and was employed as a long chain beamer in a cotton mill. His mother, Emma, was born in Patricroft, Lancashire in c1875 and was also employed in a cotton mill as a coner. They were both still alive in 1919 but it is not known for certain what became of them after that date.

 IN MEMORIUM

Loving memory of him brings many a silent tear.

Our dear Frank, the dearly loved eldest son of William and Emma Brown

(County Herald 5th November, 1920)