The stories behind the medals

Isaiah Albert Brown: 112995, Spr. I. A. Brown (Royal Engineers)

I obtained this group purely by chance and it turned out to be something quite special…

Great War Royal engineer medals are easily come by and, as such, do not command a great price; worse still many have been either erased to use as gap fillers or, the BWM scrapped for it’s silver value.

I am a member of the ‘British Medal Forum’  - A great resource for collectors or those just interested in military history: http://www.britishmedalforum.com/

I can wholeheartedly recommend joining; you will find a huge resource of information and helpful members who will be only too glad to assist you with research.

It was through this forum, in particular ‘John llbury-Welsh’, who runs a very worthwhile section within the forum to help prevent medals groups being split on such sites as eBay (John, along with others have achieved a great amount of success over the last few years, helping keep groups together as they should be).

This group was saved in one such split by John and offered to me as, after initial research, it was revealed that Isaiah lived locally to me! Other than a small repair to the BWM, these medals were untouched (Even sporting their original grubby ribbons)

So, lets try and bring Isaiah’s story back to life…

Isaiah Albert Brown’s birth was registered as January to March 1888 in Dudley, Staffordshire (Then in the county of Worcester)

The 1901 census for Staffordshire records Isaiah living with his family in the industrial town of Tipton at 67 Union Street:

1) Isaiah Brown (Father and head of the family) – 37, dairy worker

2) Hannah Brown - 35 (Wife and mother)

3) John J. Brown – 15 (Pot caster)

4) Isaiah Albert Brown – 13 (Scrap moulder)

5) Gaius? (Son – 11 years old)

6) Sarah M (Daughter – 8 Years old)

7) Harold (Son – 5 years old)

8) Annie (Daughter – 2 years old)

9) Edward Hodgson (Adopted son – 19 years old)

10) Jasey Brown (Niece – 13 years old)

The 1911 census reveals changes in the household, the family now somewhat depleted and living at 29, Hill Street, Tipton, Staffs:

1) Isaiah Brown (Father and head of household) – 47 years old. Now listed as a Drayman working for a brewery firm (In this area, most likely to have been Either Banks or Butlers)

2) Isaiah Albert Brown (Son) – 23 years old. Now listed as a labourer working for a coal merchant.

3) Harold Brown (Son) – 15 years old. Now listed as a cleaner’s helper?? (Difficult to read on census)

4) Gaius Brown (Son) – 21 years old. Listed as a Baker ‘working nights’.

5) Maud Brown (Daughter) – 19 years old (Occupation unclear)

6) Annie Brown (Daughter) – 12 years old (No occupation listed, assumed to be in last year of schooling)

It appears that Isaiah’s father remarried in 1911 to an Elizabeth A. Whitehouse within the Dudley district (Isaiah’s father is recorded as ‘widower’ and at this stage Elizabeth is not listed as living in the family home)

Unfortunately no official military service records exist for Isaiah now; all the information listed above obtained from census records. When war came in 1914, it seems probable however, that Isaiah enlisted under the ‘Derby Scheme’, remaining in employment until called up for active service.

Isaiah landed in France with the Royal Engineers on 29^th September 1915. He has 2 MIC cards listed (Not unusual as duplicate records were often made) The MIC cards both state that Isaiah entered the war as:

No: 112995 ‘Spr’ (Sapper) with the 3^rd Pioneer Company. He was clearly an intelligent and able man as he is listed as promoted to Sargent (Although no dates are given regarding the rank change) His regimental number remained unchanged throughout his service.

The later MIC states that Isaiah’s war ended on 14^th April 1917; the result of ‘sickness’ – He was issued with silver wound badge no: 170248 (If anyone knows the whereabouts of this I would be most grateful to know!)

This group does however; reveal a sad end to the story. Isaiah’s brother ‘Harold Brown’ also enlisted at around the same time (Enlistment location is listed as Wolverhampton) Again, no service records exist, only his MIC, which states he served with the Royal Field Artillery as:

No: 79119, Driver, RFA (26^th Battery)

His MIC states that he entered Egypt on 1^st April 1915. Sadly, a year later, Harold was reposted to France and Flanders, where he is listed as ‘Died of Wounds’ on 29^th June 1916. His father Isaiah and stepmother Elizabeth are listed as his next of kin. He now rests in Abbeville Communal Cemetery, Somme, France – Grave marker IV.B.14

http://www.ww1cemeteries.com/ww1frenchcemeteries/abbeville.htm

Harold was entitled to a 15 star trio and memorial plaque. If anyone knows of their whereabouts please let me know – I feel this would be particularly poignant; 2 brothers reunited forever.