Gordon Anson Brown

Rank:

Corporal

Regimental number:

773008

Unit at enlistment:

125th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Wounded:

Yes

Commemorated at:

Colborne Street Methodist Church

Birth country:

Canada

Birth county:

Middlesex

Birth city:

London, Ontario

Address at enlistment:

103 Park Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

103 Park Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Jeweler

Religious denominations:

Methodist

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Letters and documents

BC May 10, 1917

Letter From Vimy Ridge Hero

Private Gordon Anson Brown, son of Mr. and Mrs. A.H. Brown, 103 Park Ave., says during the course of a letter received by his parents.

“I have a shrapnel hole in the right thigh just above the knee on the inside of the leg. It is not large, but large enough; about 1 ½ inches in diameter and it is doing fine. I got it in the big advance at Vimy Ridge. We left the trenches about 5.30 a.m. and I just got to Fritz’s second line when I was hit. It didn't hurt much but I dropped. A Red Cross man fixed me up and I started back. There were no trenches left to tell where our front line was and all I could find were shell holes, large and small. After wandering around or at least limping around for about twenty minutes or so I started away from it and landed at the 5th Battalion Field Dressing station about 6.30 a.m. Well after I went through a lot more dressing stations I landed in the hospital at Boulogne where I wrote you a card. They weren't satisfied so shipped me across to England and here I am in the 3rd London General Hospital. I had not been here two days when a fellow got a case of measles and we are quarantined for 16 days. Oh, what luck. Of course we have no visitors now. I am going to see if I can locate Lloyd Pierce.”

BX April 20, 1917

Twelve Brantford Men Are Reported Wounded – Canadian Casualty List Included Half Score From This City All of Whom Have Been Wounded – Gunshot in Arms and Legs Cause of Majority of Hospital Cases – First Brant Battalion Draft Hit

Private word received in this city yesterday afternoon and today added 11 new names to the already large casualty list. All were wounded on or about April 9, this being in the attack on Vimy Ridge, which resulted so gloriously for the Canadian forces.

Of all the Brantford men wounded, practically all were shot wounds in the arms or shoulders, legs or thighs. But one of the 11 was reported seriously wounded. The list of casualties follows:

A.H. Brown, 103 Park Avenue, agent for the Canadian Express Co., had word this morning to the effect that his son, Pte. Gordon Anson Brown, had been admitted to the No. 13 General hospital at Boulogne on April 10. He was reported suffering from a gunshot wound in his right thigh. Prior to enlisting he worked in Newman’s jewelry store. He also went across with a draft from the 1st Brant battalion.

BX May 9, 1917

Another Brantford boy, Private Gordon Anson Brown who was wounded at the recent glorious Canadian victory at Vimy Ridge has been heard from today. His mother; Ms. A.H. Brown had a letter which states that he is now in the Third General Hospital in London, suffering from a shrapnel wound in the right thigh. At the present time the hospital is quarantined through an outbreak of measles. As he is unable to write to all his friends he asks his mother to take this means of letting them know where he is and that he is getting along fine.