The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (4073) Private Norman Richard Brown, 20th Battalion, 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 Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on (4073) Private Norman Richard Brown, 20th Battalion, First World War.

4073 Private Norman Richard Brown, 20th Battalion
DOW 15 November 1916

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Norman Richard Brown.

Norman Brown was born on 14 August 1896, the only son of Richard Brown of the Sydney suburb of Leichhardt. He went on to work as a milk carter for the Fresh Food and Ice Company at Auburn and Granville.

Brown enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in October 1915, shortly after his 21st birthday. He underwent training in Australia before leaving for active service overseas with reinforcements to the 20th Battalion. He was first sent to Egypt, where the AIF was undergoing a period of training following the evacuation from Gallipoli. From Egypt he went to France to fight on the Western Front, arriving in June 1916.

Private Brown was with his battalion as it participated in the vicious fighting near the French town of Pozieres. In early August 1916, the 2nd Division, to which Brown’s 20th Battalion belonged, suffered the highest casualties in a campaign that was said to have left Pozieres Ridge “more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth.” Nevertheless, Private Brown came through unscathed, and went with the battalion to Belgium to rest.

By November 1916 the 20th Battalion was back on the Somme and on the 14th it participated in a small operation to capture German positions near the French village of Flers. Not part of the original attacking force, the 20th Battalion provided companies to the front line after the attack began, to reinforce those assaulting the line after they had suffered casualties.

At some point during the attack, Private Norman Brown was in the front lines when an artillery shell burst nearby. He was struck in the head, arm and left leg. Despite being carried to a dressing station, Brown’s wounds were too severe and he died the following day.

Private Norman Brown was buried in Dartmoor Cemetery at nearby Bécordel-Bécourt. After the war his parents could not be traced, and so he has no epitaph. He was 22 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 Norman Richard Brown, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section