Frederick and Alfred Brown
Brothers in Arms
The Brown Brothers
Frederick and Alfred’s father was Thomas Brown, a ship’s joiner and Sarah Jane Spence who were married at Albert Street Presbyterian in 1889. The couple had 7 children: Agnes, Maggie, William, Josephine, Thomas, Frederick and Alfred. Sadly both Josephine and Thomas died from meningitis.
The two youngest sons Frederick and Alfred enlisted in the war effort.
Frederick was born on 26 March 1899, Alfred on 13 April 1904.
Frederick enlisted 2 January 1917 when he was 19 years old. Frederick married Ethel Doonan on 9 February 1921, by now a rivetter in Mountcollyer Avenue.
Although we have yet to find a service record, Alfred must have enlisted when he was underage.
lived at Upper Canning Street in 1901 Mountcollyer Avenue.
Frederick enlisted with the Royal Engineers, Inland Docks and Waterways Section.
This is obvious in the image - he is wearing an armband with anchor indicating
Inland Docks and Waterways Section).
Alfred would have been 13 in 1918. At 14 he would have been eligible to enlist as a ships boy, and so must have lied about his age.
Jim Brown is a relative.
Belfast Fire Brigade First Aid team with their cups and trophies. (Bryan Adair front second from left)
Funeral cortege from home in Ardoyne fire station.
Images © Bill Broadhurst
Promotion in the Fire Service
Great War Hero
Remembrance
Patrick is buried in Belfast City Cemetery. He is remembered by Alexandra Presbyterian and he also appears on the Roll of Honour for York Street Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church.
