Private Robert BROWN (1768)
1/6th (Morayshire) Battalion Seaforth Highlanders

Date of birth: Unknown
Date of death: 27th August 1916

Killed in action aged 1915
Buried at Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery Armentieres Plot I Row F Grave 16
Robert Brown was born at Dundee in 1894 the son of James Brown and Alexina Brown of Nether Knockans, Knockando.

He was a farm worker at Nether Knockando where he was a trusted employee. He was a keen supporter of the local football club and "frequently scored the goal which gave his side victory" (Northern Scot 1916).

He enlisted at Elgin on the 5th of August 1914, being the first man from the parish to enlist. He embarked for France with his battalion from Folkestone at 8.30pm the 1st of May 1915. and arrived off Boulogne at 10.30pm that night.

At 2.30pm on the 26th of August 1916 the 1/6th (Morayshire) Battalion Seaforth Highlanders relieved the 4th Battalion Gordon Highlanders in trenches at Bois Grenier to the east of Armentieres. When they arrived in the line the Seaforths set about making life unpleasant for the Germans opposite by firing their trench mortars at them, resulting in retaliation from German minenwerfer batteries which caused a number of deaths, as several yards of trench collapsed with each explosion. Robert Brown was most likely a victim of such a projectile. He was one of five other ranks which were killed during their tour of the front line which ended on the 31st of August.

In a letter to his relatives, the battalion Chaplain wrote:-

"He has done his "bit" unflinchingly and fell with his face to the foe."


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