Richard Austin Brown was born on 21 October 1896 the son of Thomas and Mary Jane(nee Bickle) Brown owners of the Toronto company Brown Brothers Limited on 51 Wellington Street. He was an outstanding scholar and an accomplished athlete at every school he attended — Rosedale Public School, St. Andrew’s College and University College in Toronto. He was a Corporal in the University of Toronto C.O.T.C. and May 1915 was commissioned into the 48th Highlanders as a Lieutenant. Lieutenant Brown was placed in draft to the 58th Battalion CEF and went overseas with them in 1915.
In November of that same year, he was sent to the 15th Battalion CEF then in Belgium at Ploegsteert and St. Eloi. Lieutenant Brown was wounded at Observatory Ridge (Mount Sorrel) in June 1916 and sent to Canada to recover.
He returned to his Battalion and fought at Vimy Ridge in April 1917 winning the Military Cross; Hill 70 in August 1917; and finally at Passchendaele where he was wounded again and died of wounds received on 14 November 1917.
Richard Austin Brown’s Military Cross citation reads: “for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He took command of the company during the advance, and led his men with great ability. He was instrumental in knocking an enemy machine gun out which was causing casualties.”
His circumstance of casualty card states he “Died of wounds (shell fragments to the head)” he was only 21 years old.
NOK: Son of T. Albert and Jennie Brown, of 181, Crescent Rd., Toronto.
