‹ Long Range Desert Group — Roll of Members

Francis Richard “Brownie” Brown

Private · NZ #8753 · R1 Patrol · MM

Francis Richard “Brownie” Brown
RankPrivate
Service numberNZ #8753
PatrolR1 Patrol
RegimentNZ Army Service Corps
Known as“Brownie”
Born1913-08-11
Died1944-12-23
HonoursMM
Campaign medals1939-45 Star, Africa Star (8th Army clasp), Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, NZ War Service Medal
Recordhttps://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C128486

What this roll records

WHERE HE LIES, AND WHERE HE DIED — FROM THREE NOTICES IN ONE COLUMN. New Zealand Herald, 26 December 1944, under “DEATHS”. THE FAMILY’S NOTICE: “BROWN.—On December 23, as result of accident, Francis Richard (Frank), ex L.R.D.G., 2nd N.Z.E.F., dearly-loved second son of Mr and Mrs F. T. Brown, Katikati, late of Te Kuiti; aged 31 years. Funeral leaves St. Luke’s Church, Te Kuiti, 2.30 p.m. today (Tuesday), for Te Kuiti R.S.A. Cemetery.” TWO MORE STAND BESIDE IT, FROM FRIENDS, AND THEY GIVE THE PLACE THE FAMILY’S DOES NOT: “BROWN.—On December 23, accidentally killed, Raetihi, Frank, friend and pal of M. and J. Malconson and family, Te Kuiti.—One of the best.” And: “BROWN.—On December 23, accidentally killed, Raetihi, Frank, beloved friend of J. and D. Murray, Manga and Kay, of Te Kuiti.—Onward Christian Soldiers.” WHAT THE THREE ADD TO THIS CARD. The date of death this roll already held, 23 December 1944, is confirmed to the day, and the age agrees with his birth on 11 August 1913. THE MANNER: “as result of accident”. THE PLACE OF THE ACCIDENT: Raetihi, in the central North Island — given only by the two friends’ notices. AND THE GRAVE, WHICH THIS ROLL DID NOT HOLD AT ALL: Te Kuiti R.S.A. Cemetery, the funeral leaving from St. Luke’s Church in Te Kuiti. He was of Katikati, late of Te Kuiti, the second son of Mr and Mrs F. T. Brown. HE HELD THE MILITARY MEDAL and had come through the desert with R1 Patrol; he was killed at home in an accident five months before the war in Europe ended. A NOTE ON THE SCAN: the two friends’ notices are set with the year as “1914”. That is the digitised text mis-reading 1944, as it does elsewhere in the same column (“1044”, “1911”, “101 I” all appear for 1944 in neighbouring notices); the year is given above as 1944 and the reason is recorded here rather than left to be re-checked. Source: New Zealand Herald, 26 December 1944, page 1, via Papers Past (National Library of New Zealand). Reproduced under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0; NZME is the copyright owner.

Honour MM added from LRP Roll. Source: LRP Roll (Original LRP Nominal Roll as at 5 Dec 1940, Capt L H Browne).

March 1942 roll (courtesy Tarek el Mahdy)

On the R Patrol Nominal Roll, 31 March 1941: Private Brown F.R., 8753. Source: Brendan O'Carroll, 'R Patrol, Long Range Desert Group' (R Patrol Nominal Roll, 31 March 1941).

Full name Francis Richard Brown. Born 11 August 1913 at Taumarunui; died 23 December 1944, aged 31. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.

He died in New Zealand on 23 December 1944, aged 31, and is buried at Te Kuiti Old Public Cemetery (RSA Section, Row 4) — not an overseas battle casualty. Son of Francis Thomas and Margaret Hamilton Brown (nee Brown), of Rangitoto R.D., Te Kuiti; a labourer before enlisting in 1939. Brother of James Lawrence Brown (68911). Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.

The Kiwi Scorpions (Brendan O'Carroll): Pte F. R. Brown, MM — labourer; born Taumarunui, 11 Aug 1913; died in New Zealand, 23 Dec 1944.

On the Marble Arch road watch (21 March 1942), with Trooper G. C. Parkes, lay prostrate under sheepskin coats when an enemy convoy of about 200 troops camped for the night only 150 yards away, and was not detected. Source: ‘Raids Behind the Enemy Lines’, Episodes & Studies Vol. 1 (NZ official war history).

Labourer; born Taumarunui, 11 Aug 1913. MM. Died in New Zealand, 23 Dec 1944. Source: Episodes & Studies Vol. 1 (biographical notes).

Checked CWGC (2026): no casualty record. Searched by service number 8753 and by surname and forename across December 1944; no New Zealand Brown is recorded as dying in the week around 23 December 1944. THAT INFERENCE IS NOW DISPROVED by the death notices of 26 December 1944 on this card: he did die on 23 December 1944. The Commission holds no record of him because he was no longer a serving soldier - the notices call him "ex L.R.D.G." and he was accidentally killed at Raetihi, in New Zealand - so he is not a war casualty and never fell within the CWGC’s scope. The absence of a record is the expected result, not evidence against the date. Source: Commonwealth War Graves Commission search.

His Military Medal was announced on 9 September 1942, and the Cenotaph carries the citation. It opens: “Private Brown, who was attached the Long Range Desert Group from 27 NZ (Machine Gun) Battalion, was responsible for the maintenance of the vehicles in his patrol…” The full text has not yet been transcribed. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.

Labourer in civilian life. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.

Embarkation detail from his Cenotaph record: he embarked as Private, 27 (Machine Gun) Battalion, Headquarters. This agrees with the rank held on this card. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph, record C128486.

Buried/commemorated: Te Kuiti R.S.A. Cemetery, Te Kuiti. Source: New Zealand Herald, 26 December 1944, via Papers Past (National Library of New Zealand).

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Where this comes from

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