Dedicated to the memory of all the men and women of the South Staffordshire area who died during the two World Wars.
John Sidney Brown was born at Newport, Shropshire, in about 1892. He was the son of Richard Brown, a farm bailiff, and his wife Hannah/Susanna. Shortly after Sidney's birth his family moved to Plardiwick, Gnosall and then to Bellhurst Farm, Wheaton Aston. Richard died in 1901 and Hannah and the children moved into the centre of Wheaton Aston, living near to the Reading Room (now the Village Hall).
By 1911 Sidney had moved to Ringwood, Hampshire, where he was working as a gardener. He volunteered at the start of the war, joining the newly-formed 6th (Service) Battalion of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry in September, 1914, and going to France with them in July, 1915. Sidney would have fought with his Battalion at Loos (September, 1915) and Mount Sorrel (June 1916). He was killed in action on 4th September during the Battle of Guillemont (a phase of the Somme 1916) and is commemmorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
Private John Sidney Brown, 12082, was awarded the Victory and British War Medals and the 1914-15 Star. His brother Ernald Cecil Brown is also commemorated on the Lapley War Memorial.
This memorial has mostly been compiled from official sources. It would be good to be able to expand it with more personal material - memories, stories, photos, etc. If you have any suitable material or any corrections please contact Greg.