ARCHIBALD BROWN, Lance Corporal 14107, 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry

ARCHIBALD BROWN, Lance Corporal 14107, 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, is NOT named on the Larkhall War Memorial.

He formerly served with the 16th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.

I have had some difficulty identifying ARCHIBALD BROWN.
An entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War (SDGW) shows that ARCHIBALD BROWN, Lance Corporal 14107, 1st Bn Highland Light Infantry, was born in CROSSFORD, but I found that his father was born in CROSSFORD, and that he was born in GLASGOW. His father THOMAS was a Railway Goods Guard and that occupation required him to move around.
The "Soldier's Effects" record shows that his father THOMAS received his Outstanding Pay.

His connection to LARKHALL is through the birth of his brother ALEXANDER at Applebank Cottage, MILLHEUGH, Larkhall, on 28th September, 1894.

From these clues I was able to put together the following.
ARCHIBALD BROWN was born at 62 Dunchattan Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow, on 4th October, 1892.

His father THOMAS Brown was born at Crossford in 1861.
His paternal grandparents were Archibald Brown, a Coal Miner, and Margaret Spence.
His mother Annie McGregor was born in Glasgow in 1864.
His maternal grandparents were Alexander McGregor, a Cloth Lapper, and Elizabeth Tear.

His parents, THOMAS Brown, age 29, a Railway Guard, and Annie McGregor, age 26, were married at 121 Alexandria Parade, Glasgow, on 17th July, 1891.

Children of the marriage
ARCHIBALD BROWN was born at 62 Dunchattan Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow, on 4th October, 1892.
Alexander McGregor Brown was born at Applebank Cottage, Millheugh, LARKHALL, on 28th September, 1894.
Margaret Spence Brown was born at 759 Springburn Road, Glasgow, on 27th February, 1897.

The 1901 SPRINGBURN, GLASGOW Census was taken on 31st March, 1901.
The family are listed at 81 Reid Street, Springburn, as follows:
Thomas Brown, age 39, Head, Railway Goods Guard, b Crossford.
Annie Brown, age 36, Wife, b Glasgow.
ARCHIBALD BROWN, age 8, Son, Scholar, b Glasgow.
Alexander McG. Brown, age 6, Son, Scholar, b Larkhall.
Margaret S. Brown, age 4, Daughter, b Glasgow.

The 1911 ANDERSTON, GLASGOW Census was taken on 2nd April, 1911.
The family are listed at 10 Church Place, Glasgow, as follows:
Thomas Brown, age 49, Head, Church Officer, b Crossford.
Annie Brown, age 46, Wife, b Glasgow.
ARCHIBALD BROWN, age 18, Son, Apprentice Piano Tuner, b Glasgow.
Alexander McG. Brown, age 16, Son, Message Boy, b Larkhall.
Maggie S. Brown, age 14, Daughter, b Glasgow.

ARCHIBALD BROWN joined the 16th Bn Highland Light Infantry as Pte 14107, and went to France on 23rd November, 1915. At some point he was appointed Lance Corporal and was transferred to the 1st Bn HLI.

ARCHIBALD BROWN Drowned at Sea on 15th April, 1917, age 25.
H.T. "Cameronia" was torpedoed on 15th April 1917 by the German U-boat U-33 while en route from Marseille, France to Alexandria, Egypt. "Cameronia" was serving as a troopship at the time and had approximately 2,650 soldiers on board. The ship sank in 40 minutes, 150 miles east of Malta; taking 210 lives. Other sources report only 140 casualties. Most of the crew and embarked soldiers were picked up by the escorting destroyers HMS Nemesis and HMS Rifleman. The remainder of the survivors had sufficient time to take to lifeboats.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) entry for ARCHIBALD BROWN shows that he is commemorated at CHATBY MEMORIAL, Alexandria, Egypt. There are 985 names listed here.

The Scottish National War Memorial (SNWM) at Edinburgh Castle shows that ARCHIBALD BROWN is commemorated there.

The entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War (SDGW) shows that ARCHIBALD BROWN was born at Crossford, Lanarkshire, and lived and enlisted in Glasgow.

The Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) for ARCHIBALD BROWN shows that he was awarded the 1914-15 Star Medal, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. The MIC shows that he went to France on 23rd November, 1915.

The "Soldier's Effects" record shows that his father THOMAS received his Outstanding Pay of £1/6/8, additional Payments of £-/6/11 and a War Gratuity of £12/-/-.

ARCHIBALD BROWN, Pte [sic] 14107, is listed amongst the missing in The HLI Chronicle of 1918.

Lest We Forget!

Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC).

Medal Roll for the award of The Victory Medal and The British War Medal.

Medal Roll for the award of The 1914-15 Star Medal.

2 entries in the Soldier's Effects records.

HLI Chronicle, January, 1918.

Memorial Plaque at The North British Locomotive Company, Springburn, Glasgow.