Brown, Rolf Sanger (Major, b.1894 – d.1981)

Collection relating to the First World War and Second World War service of 251332 Major Rolf Sanger Brown, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia, 1913-1971.

Wallet 1 of 2 – Contains certificates, aviator’s licence, pilot's flying log book, letter, poem and photograph relating to the services of Major Brown, dated 1908 to 1945. These wallet contains:

1x Certificate of Discharge, issued by the Military Cadet Corps to Major Brown, dated 18 December 1908.
1x Layer's Course Certificate, issued by the Royal Australian Artillery Regiment to Major Brown, dated 23 December 1913.
1x Pilot's Flight Log Book issued to Major Brown, dated from 15 January 1916 to 29 May 1930. This log book contains entries of flight courses, aeroplane types, passengers and any remarks. This log book also contains a list of Major Brown’s Squadrons, promotions, courses attended and aeroplanes flown.
1x Aviator's Certificate, issued by the British Empire to Major Brown, dated 29 August 1916. This certificate includes a portrait of Major Brown.
1x Graduation Certificate, issued by the Royal Flying Corps to Major Brown, dated 29 August 1916.
1x Certificate to Officer, issued by the Commonwealth of Australia to Major Brown, dated 16 August 1924.
1x Officer's Certificate of Service, issued by the Royal Australian Air Force to Major Brown, dated 3 July 1945.
1x Letter written from J Heaters [exact identity unknown], to Major Brown, Deniliquin, New South Wales, dated 4 December 1942. In this letter he is informed of his son, 413934 Charles Douglas Sanger Brown’s recommendation for graduation to pilot.
1x Poem [unknown writer], [date unknown]. This poem relates to the poet’s receipt of flowers from Mrs Philomene Brown.
1x Aerial photograph taken by Major Brown, dated 13 October 1918. This photograph depicts an airbase, [exact location unknown].

Wallet 2 of 2 – Contains 2 folders of material relating to the services of Major Brown, dated from 1913 to 1971.

Folder 1 of 2 consists of newspaper cuttings, seven invitations, two menus and four cards relating to Major Brown and Mrs Philomene Brown, dated 1914 to 1971.

1x Newspaper cutting, ‘Parafield Chief to Leave Tomorrow’, relating to Major Brown’s departure from Queensland, dated 4 December 1914.
1x Christmas greeting card from Princess Mary to Major Brown, c 1915.
1x Card relating to Princess Mary, c 1915.
1x Newspaper cutting, ‘Unique Souvenir’, relating to the Australian Garrison Artillery’s Christmas gift from Princess Mary, dated 30 August 1916.
1x Invitation, issued by the Commonwealth of Australia to Major Brown, dated 9 May 1927. He is invited to view the establishment of the seat of government at Canberra ceremonies. This invitation also includes a painted landscape titled ‘Canberra, 1927’.
1x Newspaper cutting, ‘Two Farewell Parties’, relating to the farewell of Major Brown and Mrs Brown, dated 21 November 1938.
2x Newspaper cuttings, relating to Mrs Brown’s involvement in the Women’s Air Training Corps Auxiliary, dated 1941.
1x Wedding invitation, sent by Lieutenant General & Mrs V A G Sturdee to Major Brown and Mrs Brown, dated 29 August 1942.
1x Invitation, sent by General Royce to Major Brown, dated 9 May [year unknown]. He is invited to attend a cocktail party.
1x Dinner invitation, sent by the Governor Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey and Lady Muriel Barclay-Harvey to Major Brown, dated 18 November [year unknown].
1x Invitation for official opening of SPF Hostel, sent by the Governor Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey and Lady Muriel Barclay-Harvey to Major Brown, dated 16 August [year unknown].
2x Newspaper cuttings titled ‘Sir C Merrett Dead’ and ‘Death of Charles Merrett’, relating to the death of Sir Charles Merrett, dated 1948.
1x Dinner invitation sent by The Air Board to Major Brown, Hotel Canberra, Canberra, dated 31 March 1971.
1x Invitation, sent by The Royal Australian Air Froce to Major Brown, dated 31 March 1971. He is invited to attend the Aide Memoire for the RAAF Jubilee Dinner.
1x Jubilee Dinner menu, relating to the 50 Anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force 1921 to 1971, dated 31 March 1971.
1x Sergent’s Mess menu relating to the No 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Parafield, South Australia, dated 17 September 1941.
1x Table place card relating to Major Brown, c 1971.
1x Blank card, [date unknown].
1x ‘With Compliments’ card relating to Major Brown, [date unknown].

Folder 2 of 2 consists of one scrap book album, containing material relating to the service of Major Brown in the Royal Australian Air Force, and the service of Mrs Philomene Brown with the Women’s War Service Council and Women’s Air Training Corps Auxiliary. This scrap book includes newspaper cuttings, photographs, invitations and letters written to Major Brown and Mrs Brown, Parafield, South Australia, dated from 1940 to 1941.

Oversize folder 1 of 1 – Contains certificates, newspaper cutting, folder and maps dated 1913 to 1942.

1x Certificate, issued by the Commonwealth of Australia for the appointment of Major Brown to Officer of the Cadet Corps, dated 28 April 1913.
1x Certificate, issued by His Majesty’s Command for the appointment of Major Brown to Officer of Land Forces, dated 8 February 1917.
1x Map of Tenbrielen, Belgium, dated 12 March 1918. This map has a scale of 1:20,000.
1x Map of Frelinghien, France, dated 14 February 1918. This map has a scale of 1:20,000.
1x Certificate, issued by the Commonwealth of Australia for the appointment of Major Brown to Officer of the Military Forces, dated 16 January 1920.
1x Department of Defence folder, issued by the Commonwealth of Australia, [date unknown].
1x Newspaper cutting titled ‘Wing Parade at a Victorian RAAF Station’, relating to Major Brown’s attendance at a Wings Parade, dated 7 February 1942.

Oversize item (custom box) 1 of 1 – Consists of one photo album relating to the service of Major Brown, dated 1917 to 1919. This photo album contains black and white photographs taken by Major Brown depicting group portraits of RAAF servicemen, aerial landscapes of France, and various aircraft in flight and crashes.

Major Rolf Sanger Brown was born in Balmain, NSW on 29 January 1894 and was an Officer in the Permanent Forces on enlistment in the Australian Flying Corps on 6 January 1916. He embarked for Egypt on 16 March where he was attached to No. 14 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps (RFC).

Brown embarked for England on 28 May where he transferred to 69 (Australian) Squadron, RFC. He proceeded overseas to France with this unit on 24 August 1917 and served there until 2 April 1918 when he was transferred to Home Establishment.

Brown was graded as a Squadron Commander on 27 April and took command of 5 Training Squadron, AFC the same day. He remained in this post until the end of the war and returned to Australia on 6 May 1919 aboard the Kaiser-i-Hind. Brown was awarded the Air Force Cross on 3 June and his appointment in the AIF was terminated on 31 July.