Story
George Brown served on the Salonika front, where the Allies were fighting the Bulgarians in the Balkans. It was a tough place to be stationed and diseases – particularly malaria – and harsh conditions took a grim tool. While there, Private Brown suffered from a double hernia aggravated by his service that would eventually lead to his honourable discharge from the Army and the award of a Silver Badge. The circular brooch bearing the King's initials included the words: 'For King and Empire – Service Rendered'. He was also entitled to the British War and Victory medals for his service in a theatre of war abroad. George Brown, a labourer by trade, was a 29-year-old single man when he attested in the December of 1915. He was mobilised two months later, on Leap Day, joining, first, the Somerset Light Infantry (regimental number 22205). He was later transferred to the Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry (regimental number 27750) and, finally, the Durhams (80095). His address was given as 20 Clarence Place (also recorded on the 1918 Absent Voters List as 20 Strand Street) Private Brown stood 5ft 4.5ins tall and had a 36ins chest. After serving at home for most of 1916, he sailed from Southampton on the Invernia, arriving 11 days later, on 13 November 1916, at Salonika. We know that, while serving on the Mediterranean front he spent time at Besch Chinar military camp. He also spent time in hospital before rejoining his unit. He finally returned to Britain on St George's Day, April 23 1919 and was stationed at home before eventually being discharged through being unfit for service due to his hernia condition on 28 August of that year. He had served for a total of three years and 263 days. He was 33. George Brown was born in 1886 in Poole. He shared his first name with his father, George Brown, a coal porter who had been born in the Dorset town around 1850. George had married Selina Seal, who came from Stoke Abbott, in a ceremony at St James Church, Poole, on December 12, 1875. Selina, daughter of Job Seal, at 25 was the same age as the groom. The couple had lived in Dear Hay Lane in Poole. In 1891, when little George was five, the family were living at 12 Caroline Row in Poole. Apart from George, four of the couple's other children were also living there. They were John, 15, who worked as an errand boy, Thomas (12), Charles (10) and Louisa (seven). A George Brown, son of George and Selina Brown, was baptised that same year at St James Church in Poole. By the time of the census of 1911, a widowed Selina Brown was living with son George, a labourer, at 20 Clarence Place. (The census return shows that she had seven children in all but three of them had died young.) After the war ended, George and his mother were both still living at 20 Strand Street in Poole. Mrs Brown was listed in the Kelly's Directory as the householder at that address up to 1927. From 1929, however, the householder is George. He remained there until 1933. * Please contact us if you wish to suggest any additions or amendments.