247082 2nd.Lt. Francis Arthur Noel Brown British Army 1/7th Btn. Worcestershire Regiment from:Acton, London (d.21st July 1916 ) Francis Brown was born on the 26th December 1897 in Twickenham. Son of George Arthur and Else Brown. His father was a solicitor. The 1911 census shows that they had moved to 13 Elmwood Gardens in Acton.
Francis initially enlisted as a Private with the 28th (1st Artists Rifles) London Regiment (Territorial Regiment), rising through the ranks and was commissioned on the 20th September 1915 as Second Lieutenant with the 1/7th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment (Territorial Regiment). He went to France on the 7th March 1916 and was killed on the 21st July 1916 during the fighting for the villages of Ovilliers and La Boiselle, Battle of the Somme. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. He is remembered on the War Memorial, St Mary's Church, Acton, London; and there is a brass plaque to him on the wall about half way down the church. This says that he was killed whilst trying to save a wounded comrade.
Francis had been a sidesman at St Mary's Church, Acton and his father was a churchwarden here. His father died at the age of 67 on the 18 October 1917 while visiting his sisters in Southwold. The note in the parish magazine at the time says he never recovered from the death of his only son.
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