1090058 Private Joseph Brown was an 18 year old blacksmith from Lancaster, Ontario serving with the St Lawrence Canal Patrol when he attested into the 253rd Battalion at Cornwall, Ontario in December 1916. In the UK he was sent to the 5th Reserve battalion before being sent to the 15th Battalion in August 1917 as reinforcement following the battalion’s loses at Hill 70. He was assigned to No. 3 Company and spent February 1918 attached to the 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company. In April the battalion was in the Gavrelle sector near Arras as part of the defensive reaction to the large German spring offensive. – Operation Michael – that was threatening the British line. At 11:45 AM on April 29, 1918 he and 192926 Private George Ford Duncan were providing security on a Lewis Gun post when the position he was wounded by an HE mortar round killing Duncan. Private Brown died of his wounds on May 2 at No. 57 Casualty Clearing Station and is buried at Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension.
NOK: Charles Brown (F) Lancaster, ON
