Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

Carrier Platoon, 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, 147th Infantry Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division, British Army

Awarded on:

August 9th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Major

Unit:

Carrier Platoon, 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, 147th Infantry Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division, British Army

Awarded on:

January 24th, 1946

"Major BROWN came out to France on 2 July 44 as 2 i/o Carrier pl (*platoon). At the end of July he took over command of the Carrier Pl and during the advance through France he proved himself invaluable in the magnificent, brave and untiring way he handled the pi, often sometimes as much as 20 miles in front of our own tps (*troops).
In the autumn near **** he was in command of a Carrier Patrol which ran into an ambush and one Carrier went up on a mine, overturned, and the crew were pinned underneath it.
Under very heavy fire Major Brown personally managed to extricate one of the crew and bring him to safety. He then got the remaining carriers out without further loss and having reorganized attacked the enemy ambush so that they withdrew.
At about 0930 hrs on 19 Jan 45 a section of Wasp Carriers was sent to "C" Coy who were being heavily attacked in ZETTEN, for use against enemy who had infiltrated into the position and were holding a house near Coy HQ.
The roads were (...) it proved quite impossible to (...) the carriers sufficiently for the (...) to be of any use.
Major Brown who had come up with the carriers, therefore proposed to the Coy Comd that the crews should fight with the Coy dismounted. He was asked to try to clear the house already mentioned with his men. By now the enemy had infiltrated into other houses and small arm fire and Bazooka fire was coming from all round. One could only venture outside Coy HQ at considerable risk. Nevertheless Major Brown after posting his PIAT's at various points to give him covering fire succeeded with the rest of his men in clearing the house. Revisiting his PIAT teams and renewing their stock of bombs under enemy Bazooka and spandau fire he resumed his attack and cleared a second house frequently firing the PIAT and Bren himself. His supply of PIAT bombs had now run out, but tanks had arrived. With complete disregard of his personnel safety, he joined the tanks and directed fire. By his tremendous drive, Major Brown not only held the enemy who threatened to overrun Coy HQ but succeeded in driving them back. He displayed throughout a very great fighting spirit combined with great energy and enterprise.
In Feb '45 he took over command of "D" Coy. At both ARNHEM and at RENSWOUDE he led the coy with great dash and initiative.
Major Brown throughout the campaign has been a magnificent leader both of the carrier pl and of D Coy."
13 June '45.