Personal info
- Name: Donald Forrester BROWN
- D.O.B: 23rd Feb, 1890
- D.O.A: 15th Sep, 1916
- D.O.D: 1st Oct, 1916
- Award: Victoria Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Sergeant, 2nd Battalion The Otago Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st New Zealand Division, New Zealand Expeditionary Force
South-east of High Wood, near Delville Wood, France 15 September 1916; Eaucourt L’Abbaye, France 1 October 1916
15 September and 1 October 1916
The First World War 1916
On 15 September 1916 the New Zealand Division attacked the German positions between Delville Wood and High Wood, north of Longueval. Sergeant D F Brown was accompanied in the action by Corporal Jesse Rodgers of the same battalion. Brown also distinguished himself a fortnight later near Eaucourt L’Abbaye (see R B Bradford VC below), a few miles to the north, but was killed in action.
Citation
For most conspicuous bravery and determination in attack when the company to which he belonged suffered very heavy casualties in officers and men from machine gun fire. At great personal risk this N.C.O. advanced with a comrade and succeeded in reaching a point within thirty yards of the enemy guns. Four of the gun crew were killed and the gun captured. The advance of the company was continued till it was again held up by machine gun fire. Again Sjt. Brown and his comrade with great gallantry rushed the gun and killed the crew. After this second position had been won, the company came under very heavy shell fire, and the utter contempt for danger and coolness under fire of this N.C.O. did much to keep up the spirit of his men. On a subsequent occasion in attack, Sjt Brown showed most conspicuous gallantry. He attacked singlehanded a machine gun which was holding up the attack, killed the gun crew and captured the gun. Later, while sniping the retreating enemy, this very gallant soldier was killed.