219451 L/Cpl. Thomas Brown British Army 14th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders from:Kirkcaldy (d.18th Aug 1916) I was a small boy when I was told about my Great Uncle Thomas Brown who died in the 1st War. He was one of four brothers and a sister the youngest - Lizzie. My Grandfather was one of the brothers who was in an essential war service job at home - an engineer running munitions - I think, but he never talked about it as it probably was difficult as his other three brothers went to war - Sam, James and Tom. Sam and James were in the Royal Scots, Tom the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 14th Battalion. Sam and James survived the War. I met my Great Uncle James when I was about 12 or 13 - he was in his eighties. My Grandfather died when I was too young to get to know him. My Great Aunt Lizzie I also met and she had very fond memories of Tom who was the younger brother and obviously close to her as she was the youngest. She died aged 96. She had kept his forage cap and 'swinging six' sporran which I still have plus his service medal which I have and his brass 'penny' given to all the fallen in WW1. She also had a letter sent from his base camp Whitley, Godalming, Surrey dated 1st December 1915. It is an insight to life as a young soldier of the first war not really knowing what he was about to face. He died on 18th August 1916 at High Wood - We do not know how he died but his name is on the Thiepval Memorial, in France. Having read some of the history as his body was never found he may have been a casualty of friendly fire which was an issue on that date. Anyway this is his letter to his sister Lizzie Dated 1st December 1915:
Service number 13642
14th Battalion A & S Highrs
B company, Platoon 5
Hut 12D
Witley Camp, Godalming
You will be surprised to hear that our furlough has been definitely fixed and B. company leaves here on Saturday week (11th I think) to return the following Saturday. I am very disappointed that I have to go home so early as I would have liked to be at home when you are there also. But in another way we should, B company, be glad to get off first as some companies overstay their leave, I have heard, and the other company that follow the defaulters have to suffer by probably not getting any leave at all. I hope our company will play the game. We would have got 10 days had not the most of C company last time they were away overstayed themselves and the Colonel has no forgiveness for that sort of thing. We are soldiers now, he says.
We are having awful weather just now and the whole camp is one mud pond, some place. You get over the boots without escape, it is just a case of taking a 'bee line as it is of no use trying to pick a path.
I was mess orderly yesterday, and today had an awful fatigue at the Sergeants' mess. I had to start at 6.45 am and have only finished at 8.45pm. It is a job where you have to wash dishes, clean up tables and rooms all day. Just think of any man tackling such a job in civilian life. I am sure I would throw down the towel within an hour instead of over 12 hours of it. However, as I have said before it is all in the game.
I was called away for half an hour to shoot in a competition for my platoon, I made a decent enough score but the light during the heavy downpours was bad and at some shots the sights on the rifle were just haze. This is a competition amongst the battalions of the division, but I don't think ours will come up very far, so far, some of them made a poor show. Our Brigadier General is giving prizes to the winners. All weekend passes are cancelled during the furlough interval, I hope I will get another weekend with you before I leave for foreign lands. It will be at least be well into January I am afraid before that time is past. If we leave here on a Saturday you could come up to town and see me. I may not get much time with you as I suppose the whole company will be together and we may be kept in our lines and when I consider the situation it may be a special train going right through.
It is very unfortunate that I cannot get up at Christmas time, but I shall have a good weekend with you when I come back.
I have not time to write more tonight. I must write a short note home yet.
Give my kindest regards and thanks to Mr & Mrs Boyer's for their goodness to me last weekend.
Your Loving Brother,
Tom
I bought this paper at a shop in the Camp 7,1/2p a pad - 50 sheets + 25 envelopes
Additional Information: | I believe Thomas Brown was my Great Great Uncle - his cousin Andrew Brown was my Great Great Grandfather.
I also have a photo of Elisabeth Craig Brown - who I think is "Lizzie"
Duncan Brown
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