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Archiver > BROWN > 1997-12 > 0882201229


From: "Mike Kirke" <>
Subject: Brown in India 1860+
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 23:53:49 +0800


My great grandfather Walter Hugh BROWN was born on 24th July 1880 to Charles
John BROWN (an inspector in the Bengal Police) and Annette Elvina Grace
(Unknown)
in Alipore Calcutta. In 1895 at the age of 15 Walter joined the 1st
Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers at Allahabad and saw service in South
Africa from 1899 to 1902. On 19th Sep 1904 he attained the rank of Staff
Sergeant and transferred to the Indian army from "Supernumerary lists on the
roles of 2nd ? Royal Irish Fusiliers". From this point on I have Walter's
service record courtesy of the OIOC. Walter served at various garrisons
throughout India in the Supply and Transport Corps and on 10th Jan 1905 he
married Kathleen Teresa COCHRANE (daughter of Lawrence COCHRANE) at St John
the Evangelist Church in Colba, Bombay.
Walter and Kathleen had one daughter Hazel Letitia Mabel BROWN, born on
10th Feb 1906 in Rawalpindi (then) India. Kathleen died on 9th Jan 1907 at
her mothers home in Holywood Co. Down Ireland.
While Walter served in the British Army in India and then in WW1, Hazel was
brought
up by his sister Letty (Letitia Maud) and her husband Will ROSS-HAYES.
Walter
attain the rank of Sub Conductor (Warrant Officer 1) in 1917 however he
died of septicaemia of sores of the legs in Mesopotamia before he reached
India after the war ended and Hazel remained with Letty & Will.
Letitia Maud BROWN was born on 26th Dec 1877 at Alipore, Calcutta. She
Married William John Ross-Hayes in 1897.
The only other definite sibling is William BROWN born 4th Mar 1879 at
Alipore, Calcutta.
In letters from Walter to Hazel, a number of Uncles and Aunts are
mentioned as follows
- Charlie Brown (perhaps m. Annette) but had Epilepsy and lived with Letty
& Will also.
- Kiity Brown m. Tom ?? and had 2 sons Cedric and Percy.
- Eddie Brown married and his wife died in 1940's.
- Josie ?? & Fred ?? who had a daughter Merle. Merle & Hazel went to
Woodstock School in Mussoorie also with cousins Beryl and Doris.
- Ellen ?? who had 2 sons Edwin & Donald. Edwin served with Walter in the
S&T Corps in Mesopotamia
- Aunty Toots
Other names mentioned are
- Will MATHER - father of a Clara??
- Peter WREFORD
- Michael Joseph and Clarence Mabel DOYLE - god parents to Hazel
Will ROSS-HAYES was the District Engineer Jhang Principal in Feb 1916 and
then the Garrison Engineer in Bareilly in Jan 1917.
Will & Letty ROSS-HAYES and Charlie BROWN were living in Fraser Town
Bangalore in Mar 1947.

If any one has any information on any of the names above, please contact
me -

I have transcribed the index for all BROWN(E) baptisms in the Bengal
Presidency for the period 1876 to 1884, being the LDS film # 0498518 and the
marriages index for the period 1897 to 1910 being LDS film # 0498536. This
is handwritten so I will look up any names if asked.

Regards to All
Mike Kirke
Mandurah
Western Australia.

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