Military History

Brown enlisted with the Trench Mortar Brigade as a Gunner 23.5.1917- 8.7.1917. He was sent for further training to Broad Meadows, NSW as a Private 8.8.1917. He transferred to the 27th Reinforcement 11th Battalion in Melbourne 26.9.1917 prior to embarkation.
Embarked Melbourne, Victoria per HMAT ‘Aeneas’ A60 for UK 30.10.1917
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 27th Reinforcement, 11th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force.
Brown disembarked at Devonport with the 11th Battalion 27.12.1917. He marched in to 2nd Training Battalion at Sutton Veny 27.12.1917. Brown was admitted to Hospital at Sutton Veny 17.2.1918. On discharge from hospital, he proceeded overseas to France via Dover 1.4.1918. He was transferred to 51st Battalion 6.4.1918. The 51st Battalion fought at Villers-Bretonneux in April 1918. Brown was wounded in action 24.4.1918- with severe gunshot wound to his head. He was invalided to the UK. Brown was admitted to 5th Southern General Hospital, Portsmouth with Machine Gun Bullet to face 29.4.1918. He was transferred to 1st Auxiliary Hospital Harefield 23.5.1918 with facial paralysis. (reported in Kalgoorlie Miner 4.6.1918 p3.) Brown was transferred to the No. 2 Group Clearing Hospital at Hurdicott. He embarked for France and was sick at sea with dyspepsia 17.3.1919 - 24.3 1919. He marched into England for return to Australia and was invalided home.
Embarked UK for Australia per HS ‘Nevasa’ 8.3.1919.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 20.4.1919.
Discharged 21.5.1919.
Final Rank Private, 51st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force.
Medical Condition Invalided with facial paralysis.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes His brother Harold Clare Brown, 4th Australian Machine Gun Battalion returned 30.10.1919.
Photos  HMAT 'Aeneus'. Photographer unknown, photograph source State Library NSW image  a636033r
              Ruins of Chateaux near Villers-Bretonneux 1918. Photographer, photograph source  AWM E02983
              No. 5 General Hospital, Portsmouth, Hampshire 1919. http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ww1-5th-southern-general-hospital-428367269

Information Source

AWM E02983. Ruins of Chateaux near Villers-Bretonneux 1918. Photographer, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll- John Alban Viveash Brown
Guildford Grammar School Honour Roll
Kalgoorlie Miner
NAA: Brown J A V 7947
SLNSW image a636033r. HMAT 'Aeneus'. Photographer unknown, photograph source State Library of New South Wales.
Worthpoint Postcard 428367269. No.5 General Hospital Portsmouth, Hampshire,1919. http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ww1-5th-southern-general-hospital



Middle Swan, WA.

Associated Images