Cemetery: Noeux-Les-Mines Communal Cemetery

Country: France

Area: Pas De Calais

Rank: Private

Force: Army

Official Number: 226353

Unit: 10th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment)

Country of Service: Canadian

Details: 17th August 1917 Age 18 Son of Mrs P McAuliffe II J 29 An extract from "The London Gazette No 30338, dated 16th Oct, 1917, records the following: For most conspicuous bravery courage and devotion to duty After the capture of a position the enemy massed in force and counter-attacked The situation became very critical all wires being cut It was of the utmost importance to get word back to Headquarters This soldier and one other were given the message with orders to deliver the same at all costs The other messenger was killed Private Brown had his arm shattered but continued on through an intense barrage until he arrived at the close support lines and found an officer He was so spent that he fell down the dug-out steps but retained consciousness long enough to hand over his message saying ' Important message' He then became unconscious and died in the dressing station a few hours later His devotion to duty was of the highest possible degree imaginable and his successful delivery of the message undoubtedly saved the loss of the position for the time and prevented many casualties

Photograph by Dave and Kay Lovell / TWGPP Volunteers