Brown, Harold Halstead (1896 - 1916)

Second Lieutenant, 1st Bn. Gordon Highlanders

Buried at Thiepval Memorial

Commemorated at Bellahouston Academy Roll of Honour

Lieutenant Harold Brown received his commission in the Gordon Highlanders in March 1915. He went to the front in June of the same year where he was attached to the Seaforths. Invalided home, he rejoined his regiment in September and returned to France in March 1916 where he was again attached to the Gordons. At the age of 19, on 18 July 1916 he fell in action at Delville Wood, France

Harold was the youngest son of four and the first to fall of the Rev. John Brown, D.D., and Margaret Romanes Brown of Bellahouston Parish Church, whose sons all died in their country's service. The late Very Reverend John Brown, D.D, was minister of Bellahouston Parish, and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (1916-1917). He was born on the 24 October 1896. On leaving the High School of Glasgow, he proceeded to the University, entering on the Arts side. There he joined the Officer Training Corp, from which he obtained his commission in the Gordon Highlanders in March 1915.

He left for the front on 1 June 1915, and was attached to the 2nd Seaforths, then at Ypres. Later he was invalided home. He rejoined the 3rd Gordons in September, and left again for the front on 7 March 1916. He was attached to the 1st Gordons, and with them took part in an attack on Delville Wood on 18 July 1916 , and fell in action. He was a nephew of Professor Rankine, KC, of Threepwood, Roxburghshire, and a grandson of the Very Reverend John Rankine DD, of Sorn, who was Moderator of the Church of Scotland in 1883. Like his older brothers he had a brilliant career at the High School.

Memorial: Lieutenant Brown has no known grave but is remembered at Thiepval Memorial; Bellahouston Academy Roll of Honour 1914-1918, The University of Glasgow's Roll of Honour and Chapel and the Scottish National War Memorial.

Here is his entry in the University of Glasgow's Roll of Honour - http://universitystory.gla.ac.uk/ww1-biography/?id=1402