Death of the Brigadier.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3179, 1 September 1917, Page 7

Death of the Brigadier.

At about 10.40 a.m. on the morniiut of the Bth the Brigade Commander, Brjgo--lier General C. H. J. Brown, was killed by'a shell while talking to ihe Divisional Commander Tn front of Mossn.es. He was greatly esteemed by his brigade and his loss was mourned throughout rhp wable.division. Is in the case of. the other units, so Tn this one, thorcGwero many nets ot individual bravery. The machine-guii-l"e?J a retcher-bearers, and runners did 1 A.im work The runners carried niS nnder constant shell {ir 0[ and several times through heavy barrages. Thero were always volunteers for the nit dangerous work. A of the Wellingtons, when his officer was wounded -while attacking a number ot the enemy, and when there were only a few men left, in bs platoon, took

charge, and pushed back the attack with j such boldness that over fifty were killwt J with rifle and grenade and the rest driven off. He continued to do good work during the rest of tho operations. A private of the Wellingtons on ths morning of the attar-k captured a mn-chino-gun and its entire crew, '.throughout all tho fighting he displayed cool courage of a very high order. A lancecorporal of the Wellingtons with eleven others advanciug against, a number of tho enemy who had taken cover in shell holes did a fine thins. When his platloon commander was wounded he covered him, and then rushed up and shot a party of three of the enemy. Afterwards he gave his platoon sergeant valuable help in organising an attack that resulted in tho killing of a number of the enemy and driving others from cover. He was wounded on tho second day. A captain of the Aucklauds did fine work in the handling of his company on the 7th, Bth, and oth June. Ho displayed great coolness throughout the whole of the operations, and managed to keep his men well in hand. At one rather critical stage, when troops in front were retiring and coming through his company, he rallied them and prevented many from going through to the rear. All the time he sent back valuable reports, which kept the battalion well advised of the position. -, When Ko. 2 post was being established on one of tho forward lines under heavy shell fire and also fire from enemy machine guns, an Auckland lieutenant did fine work. Ho was twice driven out of the position, but each time returned to the work in hand until the position was finally mado seciwe. This officer was already known for his work on Gallipoli, on tho Soinme, and in two raids.

A corporal of a machinq-gun company acted with great gallantry on tho morning of the attack in the capture of a machine-gun which was afterwards used, with good effect against the enexy. On tho following day his officer was wounded, and he took charge, of the sub-sec-tion, handling the gun with-great skill, and keeping his men under splendid control during some of the heaviest enemy shelling. A stretcher-bearer performed most gallant work in getting out the wounded during' the three successive days of the hottest fighting. He worked practically without rest, and with an absolute disregard of his own safety.. On several occasions he passed with wounded one way, and with empty stretchers another way, under heavy shell fire. Others did equally gallant work, some carrying on till they were killed or wounded, others till they almost dropped from fatigue. Thev earned the unbounded admiration of all who saw anything of their exertions and the dangers they ran. • The "Lewis gunners worked eftectiveij and with the utmost disregard of danger. A. lance-corporal, when troops in front were falling back, kept his gun in acton all the time in spite of heavy shelling, and set a fine example to all m his vicinity He is a man who is absolutely teailek and who has on other occasions performed gallant work in the field. The runners, too, excelled tnemseH,*, going through darkness, smoke, gas fumes, and shell fire with messages when all other means of communication had failed. In some instances communications devolved upon them after the first two hours' fighting for a coneideraWe time One, a private in the Auckland*, displayed great bravery in carrying mesS Inder heavy shell lire, going several times through the barrages, Ho remained cheerful and contented and continued on .duty until utterly latigued and footsore.

Boys of the New Brigade. On the morning of June 21 tho Corps Commander inspected a representative parade of officers and men of one ot the brigades who took part in the Battle ot Alessines. Addressing the troops he said: "Officers, non-commissioned officers, and men—l have come hero to-<lay to thank, you and to congratulate you on what tho brigade has done, in the great .victory which we have just won over the Germans at the Battle of Messines. the brigade had a very difficult task 'to do. As you all know, it was on the left of the original assault, and you had to do what was in many ways as difficult a job as-any other troops m the whole attack had to do. And if everybody had not known exactly what "they had to do and how to do it, and had not thought a lot about it, and studied and worked hard, the success would not have been anything like what it was. It was to those troops that went first over tho parapet and on to Messines, of which this brigade was i|i the van, that we really owe in a largo measure the victory.. After that the brigade was scut forward to a iarther line, and you had, a very difficult time and a very arduous time dvu-ing the consolidation of that line. It must be a very great satisfaction to all concerned in it 'to know that that line is now firmly established, and a great many of you have seen for yourselves, that tho Germans have been driven right back across the Lys, and that we are in touch of Warneton and Frelinghein. To tins brigade especially is duo a very large amount of the credit for that. ' I remember well when the'brigado was first formed, only about eighteen months ago, after the troops had come back from the Peninsula. I was confident then that it would not be long before the brigade would prove" its worth to rank with those who had covered themselves with glory at Gallipoli. The anticipations, then formed have been more than justified. Not only on the Somme, where it has established itself as second, to no other, but also now in this great Battle of Messines, its record is ono of which any commander might be proud, i For my part I am verv proud to have the brigade in the corps, and in any future operations I hope I shall always 'have the good fortune to have it. in my command. Once moreil thank you from my heart for all you have done, and I feel sure that the people of New Zealand will bo proud to hear of the deeds of this brigade which they can look upon as second to no brigade in the forces of the Empire." , , , , The brigade afterwards marched past to the music of. ono of its bands. It looked remarkably well, the troops having made a wonderful recovery from the strenuous ordeal through which, but a few days before, they had passed..