The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (5546) Private James Brown, 18th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Chris Widenbar, the story for this day was on (5546) Private James Brown, 18th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

5546 Private James Brown, 18th Battalion, AIF
Died of wounds 27 February 1917

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private James Brown.

James Brown was born in Glasgow, Scotland, about 1879, the son of George and Isabella Brown.

Brown emigrated to Australia with his wife, Elizabeth, in 1913. Settling in the Sydney suburb of Glebe, Brown plied his trade as a plumber until March 1916, when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force.

After six months of training in Australia, on 9 September he left Sydney aboard the troopship Euripides, bound for overseas service.

Allotted to reinforcements to the 18th Battalion, his first stop was England, where he received further training in preparation for the fighting on the Western Front. Private Brown joined the 18th Battalion in France on 27 January 1917, where it was involved in the follow-up of German forces during their retreat to the Hindenburg Line.

In February, the battalion approached Butte de Warlencourt, an ancient burial mound off the Albert–Bapaume road that had been tunnelled and fortified.

Movement was difficult because of the muddy, broken state of the ground. Some trenches had been almost completely obliterated, leaving behind a succession of strong points that were impossible to approach during day time. As lingering fog set in, enemy artillery became active, with Australian patrols just as active during the night.

24 February, however, proved to be a clear day with good visibility. Patrols were sent out to find whether enemy had evacuated the front line. Finding some unoccupied areas, front line companies moved forward and established forward company headquarters in an old German dugout before meeting heavy rifle and machine-gun fire.

Private Brown was wounded, receiving a gunshot wound to the back and leg. He was sent to a casualty clearing station, but his wounds proved mortal, and he died three days later.

He was buried at the nearby Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, under the inscription chosen by his grieving widow: “He died that we might live”.

James Brown was 38 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private James Brown, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Duncan Beard
Historian, Military History Section