Army Museum of New South Wales
    Thomas Britton Brown (1897 – 1984)

1897. Born on 24^th December at Nowra, New South Wales, Thomas Britton Brown was the son of Henry Brown and his wife, Christina Brown (née Britton).

1916-1919. Thomas Brown enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in May 1916. At the time, his civilian occupation was Electroplater and he was living in the Sydney suburb of Cronulla. He was posted as a Driver in the 4^th Divisional Ammunition Column (6th Reinforcements).

He embarked at Sydney for war service in September 1916 and after some five months of training in England embarked for service on the Western Front. Upon his arrival in northern France in March 1917 Thomas Brown was transferred to the 1^st Divisional Ammunition Column near the village of Fricourt in the Somme Department. The column, which was an artillery unit, was primarily responsible for the delivery of artillery ammunition and infantry small arms ammunition by means of horse-driven wagons to units of the division.

At the time Thomas Brown joined it, the 1^st Divisional Ammunition Column took part in the pursuit of German forces to the Hindenburg Line where that defensive position passed through the village of Bullecourt in the Pas-de-Calais Department. In September, October and November 1917 the column took part in the Third Battle of Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium. In April 1918 the column was took part in halting the German offensive in the Hazebrouck area of the Nord Department, northern France and in August 1918 took part in the Battle of Amiens. The column continued once again as part of the final advance to the Hindenburg Line, near St Quentin in the Aisne Department, northern France.

Thomas Brown embarked in England in March 1919 for return to Australia and his discharge from the AIF.

Inter-war years. Thomas Brown resided in the Sydney suburb of Marrickville and continued his civilian occupation as an Electroplater. In 1924 he married Dorothea Seiton.

In May 1930 Thomas Brown became a member of the 14^th Field Artillery Brigade (Militia) in which he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in February 1932. He had a break in service between April 1936 and October 1939 then was re-appointed as a Lieutenant in the same brigade. He was still serving in the brigade in March 1940 when he re-enlisted in the AIF for further war service.

1940-1945. Upon re-enlistment, Thomas Brown was posted to the 2/5^th Field Regiment as a Lieutenant and was promoted to Captain in February 1941 while taking part in the North African campaign. In December 1941 he was awarded a Mention in Despatches. Promoted to Major in June 1943, Thomas Brown served with the 2/5th Field Regiment in the 1943 Salamaua - Lae and Finisterre Range campaigns in New Guinea. He returned with his regiment to Australia in January 1944 and transferred to the Reserve of Officers in January 1945. He was formally retired from the Australian Army in July 1951.

1984. Thomas Britton Brown was still residing in Marrickville when he passed away on 12 March 1984 aged 86. His wife pre-deceased him.