Captain John William Brown Royal Corps of Signals

Royal Corps of Signals
'Swift & Sure'

John William Brown was a captain (No.186340) in the Royal Corps of Signals. He was attched to the 20th Indian Div. Signals., Indian Signal Corps. He died on Thursday 11th May 1944 in Burma aged 25.

He was the son of Robert & Nellie Brown of Rothwell. He was born in Leicester and was a school teacher at Oadby Gartree School on Harborough Road, Oadby which was the school attended by Great Glen pupils at the time. This is now Launde School. He had graduated with a B.A.(Hons).

The 20th Indian Division were surrounded at Imphal by the Japanese and the Battle of Imphal lasted 3 months. The Division, which was part of the British 14th Army, ‘The Chindits’, was particularly involved in the defence of Shenam Ridge. John was killed during the Battle of Imphal.

Fred's Gravestone

He is buried at the Imphal War Cemetery in India and is also commemorated on the gravestone of his brother, Fred, who is buried in Great Glen churchyard, with the words 'To the memory of Capt.J W Brown - Killed in Burma - 11th May 1944 aged 25'. For details of the Imphal War Cemetery click on the link for The Commonwealth War Graves Commission.