Impression sketch
for Private Brown aged 16
While well known
how youth
Was keen to take
part in war,
With older
peers or brothers -
Determination was
told of one
Particular boy,
Fred Brown.
Home of the
family was Gould
Road, Twickenham -
August
1914 saw young Fred
Brown
2 months after he
turned 16 -
His older brother was aged 17.
Already in the
army, stationed
At Gibralter, the
older Brown's
Battalion
returned to Hounslow,
Ready to go to France - at a time
When volunteers
were drafted.
Fred Brown was
among those
That wanted to go
and fight
But due to his
age, unaccepted.
Yet 'no' was not an
option for
This boy, who
followed the draft.
As they collected
their kit, Fred
Made a request that
he might
Be allowed to join them - but
He was told
he should stay;
Only his brother was to go.
Only his brother was to go.
When the draft
moved onto
The train station, Fred Brown
Followed - still, 'no' was not
An option - as the
train pulled
Out, a carriage
door opened.
Amid eager youths
there was
A scramble to get
aboard, Fred
Brown among them
- already
Ahead at Southampton,
a wire
Alerted the waiting authorities.
Having had their
fun, the boys
Were rounded up - all except
Fred Brown - most
likely helped,
He was smuggled
to the boat,
Which set off
across to France.
As they sailed, Fred
Brown's
Civilian appearance
and years
Gave him away -
Fred aged
16 persisted, requesting that
He became an
officer's servant.
Finally his
desire was granted -
Over the next
months of war
Fred recovered from
shrapnel
Wounds - an eager,
willing duty
Took Private Brown to Ypres.
During this time
young Private
Fred Brown
suffered in a gas
Attack, to leave
him in serious
Condition - but as a soldier
He was ready for
the Somme.
June 26 1916,
close to his 18th
Birthday Private
Fred Brown was
Killed, during a
bombardment -
No mention of his
brother, to say
Their father served on east coast.
Their father served on east coast.
By Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1916. 1916. British Boy's Courage - Killed On The
Battlefield. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 17 July 1916. P.3. Col.7. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12212090/Daily-Telegraph-July-17-1916.html>
[Accessed: 17 July 2016].
Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 17 July 2016).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Somme
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