Horace Brown

This story is shared with the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher.

Horace Brown was born on the 28th of August 1917, the son of George & Mary Ann Brown (née Hampton), who married on the 25th of May 1896 in the Parish Church at Royston, in the County of York. George Brown, 24, bachelor and a Bricklayer of Royston, whose father, a Labourer, was deceased, married Mary Ann Hampton, 19, a spinster of Royston and whose father, James Hampton was a Miner.

The first time we see Horace Brown is on the 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th of June 1921. He is seen living at 238, Mid Road, Royston, Yorkshire (West Riding) with his family. George Brown was a Brick Layer for Mr. Sparks, Doncaster for the Shafton Housing Scheme and Mary Ann Brown was doing Home Duties. They had six children: Gladys Brown, 22, who was also doing home Duties; Edwin Brown, 20 years who was working as a Pit Boy Driver for the New Monckton Colliery, Monckton; George Brown, 16 years and a Pit Labourer for the same Colliery; Harold Brown, 12 years and Thomas Hampton Brown, 10 years old, who were both at school and Horace Brown, 3 years 10 months old, all born in Royston, Yorkshire.

Horace married Lucy Woodcock on the 5th of November 1938 in St. Mathew’s Methodist Church, Royston. He was 21, and a Confectioner’s Van Driver, of 238, Midland Road, Royston. Lucy Woodcock, aged 20 years, was working as a Domestic Servant (General) of College Grove House, Wakefield. They were married by Certificate i.e. a wedding in a Register Office or a non-conformist church.

The 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th of September 1939 shows the young couple living with Horace’s father, at 238, Midland Road, Royston. Horace was a Motor Driver (Bakery Trade) and Lucy was doing Unpaid Domestic Duties.

Sadly, I have no other information on Horace Brown, neither his early or teen years, but he was to find himself fighting on D-Day and laid down his life for our freedom.

He was serving with 3 Maritime Regiment, Royal Artillery and had been posted to man the guns on MV Derrycunihy, a Defensively Equipped Merchant Ship (DEMS). The MV Derrycunihy sailed from West India Docks, London and joined a convoy off Southend-on-Sea which was heading for Sword Beach. They arrived on 20 June 1944 but bad weather and heavy shelling by the German defenders prevented them unloading for three days. A decision was made to move so they could unload on Juno Beach instead.

They got ready to sail at 07:40 on 24 June 1944 but the sound of her engines triggered an acoustic mine which had been dropped during one of the German Luftwaffe's nightly raids. The ship broke in two and the stern sank within seconds.

Horace Brown was posted as missing, presumed killed in action. His body was never found so he is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial to the Missing.

I believe that Lucy Brown, Horace’s wife, never remarried as I found a death of a Lucy Brown, with her birthdate, dying in the March quarter of 2004, aged 86 years in the Calderdale registration district.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of Horace Brown. If you are aware of one, or you are related to Horace, we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.