More about Alexander Brown

Alex Brown   41433   Royal Field Artillery

GALLANT DUNDEE SOLDIER KILLED.

“NO MAN COULD HAVE DONE HIS DUTY BETTER.”

Driver Alex Brown, of the Royal Field Artillery, one of the first of the Dundee Tramway employees to go to the front, has died a soldier’s death.  He was the eldest son of Mr John Brown, 105 Hawkhill a well-known tramway car driver on the Constitution Road route, and the intimation of his death came to hand yesterday in a letter from Major N. E. Rudigin, of the R.F.A.  The Major’s letter is in the following terms :–

“I regret very much that your son, Driver A. Brown, of the 8th Battery R.F.A., died of wounds received in action on November 4.  He was badly wounded in both legs on 3rd November at Neuve Eglise, Belgium.  We did everything we could for him.  He was at once sent in an ambulance motor back to the hospital, but I was afraid that he would not survive the shock, and we heard soon afterwards the poor fellow died the next day.  He was buried by the Church of England chaplain in the churchyard at Bailleul.  I must express to you my very deep sympathy in your great loss.  It might be a consolation to you to know that no man in the battery could have done his duty better, and he was quite one of the best drivers in the battery.  We were very heavily shelled that day, and had a good many casualties.  We all deeply grieve to lose your son, who was liked by everyone.  I took the liberty of opening the enclosed letter from you to him, as it was brought for me to return.  A parcel for him has also been returned to you.  All his effects have been sent to the War Office, and will be sent to you.”

The late Driver Brown was 25 years of age, and was the eldest of the family.  He served in the R.F.A. for six and a half years, and as a reservist he was called up from his employment in the Tramways Department on the outbreak of war.  The good qualities which gained for him the esteem of his comrades in the army manifested themselves also in civil life, and the news of his death will be received with deep regret by his colleagues in the Tramways Department.

Dundee Courier 5th December 1914