Walter Ernest Brown

Infobox Military Person
name=Walter Ernest Brown
lived=3 July 1885 – Death date and age|1942|2|15|1885|7|3|df=yes


caption=
nickname=
placeofbirth=New Norfolk, Tasmania
placeofdeath=Singapore (assumed - body not recovered)
religion=
spouse=
allegiance=Australia
branch=First Australian Imperial Force & Second Australian Imperial Force
serviceyears= 1914-1918 & 1939-1942
rank=Sergeant
unit=
commands=
battles= World War I
World War II
awards=Victoria Cross
Distinguished Conduct Medal
relations=
laterwork=

Walter Ernest Brown VC, DCM (2 July 1885-28 February 1942) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was 33 years old, and a corporal in the 20th Battalion (N.S.W.), Australian Imperial Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 6 July 1918 at Villers-Bretonneux, France on his own initiative, Corporal Brown rushed a machine-gun post, which had been causing great inconvenience by persistent sniping. Despite being fired on by another machine-gun, he continued to his objective and with a Mills grenade in his hand, he stood at the door of the dug-out and called on the occupants to surrender. One of the enemy rushed out and scuffled with him, but was knocked down by the corporal's fist. One officer and 11 men then surrendered and he brought them back as prisoners, again under heavy machine-gun fire.

Brown later achieved the rank of sergeant. He was killed in action, Malaya, probably on 15 February, 1942, as Singapore was about to be surrendered. Witnesses alleged him to have calmly picked up some grenades and said: 'No surrender for me', before walking towards the enemy lines, never to be seen again.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial "(Canberra, Australia)".

References

*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*VCs of the First World War - Spring Offensive 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 1997)