Kintyre reflects on Somme centenary

THE DEATH of a Glebe Street soldier a week before the First World War’s bloodiest battle was commemorated in Campbeltown.

Sergeant Neil Brown, 24, of the 1st/8th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was killed as he rushed forwards to take a shell crater on the night of June 20, 1916.

At the time the army described it as an action precluding the Somme offensive.

On Tuesday evening last week, Piper John Brown, a grand-nephew of Sgt Brown, played as family and members of the Royal British Legion assembled by Campbeltown war memorial on Kinloch Green.

Speaking before the service, Donald Brown said: ‘I talked about this day years ago with John’s dad, Joe Brown but sadly he passed away last year.

‘Most of my granny’s siblings were lost in the First World war.’

In a commemoration, which moved several members of the Brown family to tears, Lorne and Lowland church minister Reverend Philip Wallace remembered Sgt Brown’s life, exactly a century after his death.

Mr Wallace said: ‘We are gathered here to remember a man who was born in Glebe Street in 1892.

‘He joined the Territorials in 1912 and was known as a crackshot.’

Mr Wallace went on to read out the statement, by chaplain Rev Herbert Reid in 1916, sent to Sgt Brown’s father, an upholsterer. These words formed the basis of a full column in the 1916 Campbeltown Courier.

Part of the statement said: ‘In the forenoon we had a fine church service under the big trees. The last words Neil sang together with us were the verses of the old favourite hymn: ‘While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eyelids close in death, Rock of ages cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee.

‘Your boy has died a noble death, willingly giving himself for King and country, and falling like a soldier in the very front of battle. He will not return to us but we will go to him.’

Sgt Brown’s body was buried at Maroeuil Cemetery in France beside comrades, 2nd lieutenants John Inch and Robert Smith of Inveraray, Lance Sergeant Duncan McDonald from Gigha, and two American soldiers, Privates Leech and Hardy.

Mr Wallace also read out a poem about the death before family members laid wreaths.

25_c27ww1memorial07 The congregation who commemorated Sergeant Brown.

25_c27ww1memorial08 Sergeant Neil Brown.

25_c27ww1memorial03 Joe Brown with a wreath and photo of his great-uncle.

25_c27ww1memorial04 Donald Brown, who organised the commemoration.

25_c27ww1memorial05 Piper John Brown plays below the stone plaque where Sgt Brown’s name is recorded.

25_c27ww1memorial02 Sgt Brown’s medals.