BRIGADIER-GENERAL BROWN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3107, 11 June 1917, Page 4

BRIGADIER-GENERAL BROWN

DEATH AT THE FRONT.

News reached Wellington yesterday of tho death in action of Brigadier-General Charles Brown, D.5.0., of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force. General Brown left this country with tho Main Body as a member of General Godley's staff, with tho rank of captain. His promotion to general rank was dated February 22 of this year. Ho was seriously wounded in the Gallipoli fighting, and it was for meritorious service in that campaign that he was awarded tho Distinguished Service Order. After he recovered from his wound he went to Franco and was mentioned in dispatches for his work in tho Battle of tho Somme.

Civilian and soldier, "Charlie" Brown, as he was always called by his friends, was better known on the West Coast thau in any other part of New Zealand. In his youth he was a prominent athlete, his favourite sport being football. He first began to tnko an interest in military matters when as a .ronng man ho was appointed to a lieutenancy in tho Denniston Volunteer Corps. Later, when the captain left tho district, Mr. Brown succeeded to the command of the company.. In this capacity ho attracted the attention of tho authorities as a highly efficient officer, and when the Defence Act providing for compulsory service whs brought, into operation, he was appointed to the New Zealand Staff Corns. As an area group commander under the Defence' Act organisation, Captain Brown did very valuable- work in charge of tho West Coast, proEably one of the most difficult districts in tho whelo of New Zealand. He camo from his station sit Greymoiith into camp when tho Expeditionary I'orce was mobilised.

General Brown was forty-seven ypai-s of RJTP. He has two sons in the N.Z.E.F. One, who had taken up the profession of soldiering, camo into the Force from Duntroon Military Collpce, and was detained for a considerable time in camp l'»re us nn instructor, ljnt li" loft for tho front some time ago. The other hoy Ins not commissioned rank. fii>nernl Biwn leaves a widow, one other sin, and two daiip-hfer':, nil younger than the boys in thp Army.