The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Brown
- First Name:
- Allan Roy
- Nick Name:
- Roy
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX7947
- Classification:
- Driver
- Company:
- Headquarters Company, No 3 Platoon
- Enlisted:
- 13.08.1940
- DOB:
- 16.04.1917
- Place of Birth:
- Perth, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Henry Robert Brown
- Mothers's Name:
- Annie Jane Brown (nee Bettes)
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Mechanic
- Memorial:
- Kranji War Cemetery, Collective Grave, Plot 28, Row C, Grave 10-14, Age 33.
- Cause of Death:
- Killed in Action
- Place of Death:
- Reformatory Road, Ulu Pandan
- Date of Death:
- 12.02.1942
- Buried:
- Where killed at map reference 761126 by Major A. Cough Party on 21.12.1942.
General Description
‘Roy’ Brown enlisted AIF 13 Aug 1940. He later joined 2/4th’s Headquarters Company, No. 3 Platoon Administrative as a driver. Quartermasters were Capt Phelps and Lt O’Sullivan.
Roy Brown was ordered to stay near his truck during action at Ulu Pandan on account of his small stature of 5 foot and one half inch. He was reported KIA in bayonet charge at Ulu Pandan.
His body was discovered several months after surrender by several men from 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion who went under the wire from Adam Park Camp on the night of 28/29 May I942 and was buried by that party. Please read further
Please read further about battle Ulu Pandan
Roy Brown’s parents Henry Robert Brown who was born 1881 worked as a cycle machinist m. 1905 Subiaco to Annie Jane Bettes who was born in 1884 Adelaide South Australia. It is believed there were only two sons.
The couple resided Subiaco until about 1917 then moved to Northam. They were recorded in Electoral Rolls for years 1925 and 1931 at Northam where Henry Brown was a garage proprietor. He moved to back to Perth and was recorded in 1937 and 1943 working as a cleaner residing Leederville. We believe he died in 1948 in Perth. Annie and the boys remained in Northam.
It is also believed Roy may have married about 1933 but we have no record.
Annie Jane Brown died 2 Jan 1957 aged 72 years and is buried at Northam. Roy’s brother Harry Brown died 14 July 1960 aged 53 years. He is also buried at Northam Cemetery.
Below: researching Roy Brown and his family pre-war has proved challenging. I felt excitement to find this in the Northam Advertiser on Trove (Roy’s mother may not have approved – but if you can make sense of the whole incidence, good luck! I thought it was a few mates going out on Saturday night!)
I was pleased to find evidence of Roy at that time! Historian, C. Mellor March 2022
The three men 2/4th named are all drivers with HQ Company, No 3 Platoon.
Defending them was Captain George Gwynne WX3450 from 2/4th, who was a solicitor and barrister.
WX7466 L/Cpl Bernard James Walsh, Driver HQ Coy, 3 Platoon. (Walsh missed boarding ‘Aquitania’ before she sailed from Fremantle heading to Singapore on 16 Jan 1942 and was landed in Java where he was taken POW 8 March 1942). Walsh worked on the Burma-Thai Railway, was sent to Japan and was recovered from the dreadful Omuta Coal mine at the end of the war. He returned home after the war.
Walsh would have learned of his mate Roy Brown’s death in Singapore whilst working on Burma -Thai Railway.
WX8622 Pte George David Williams, Driver HQ Coy, 3 Platoon worked on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘F’ Force and survived to return to Singapore. He was recovered from Changi.
