Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lance-Bombardier

Unit:

2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA, 1st Armoured Brigade, Force HQ Greece (W Force), British Army

Awarded on:

September 24th, 1942

Citation:
"L/Bdr. BROWN was captured on 29.4.41 at KALAMATA, moved to CORINTH and then to SOLONIKA. - On 16.6.41 they were entrained for GERMANY, but about 20 miles southside SOLONIKA L/Bdr. Brown jumped from the train. He went south and stayed with a doctor till 27 August. He then moved to a cafe near the port to wait for a boat.

Here he met Pte. GEORGIOUS PETROU, Cy(?) 2089, 2 Pioneer Coy, Cyprus Regiment and L/Cpl. William Edward Watson, Nx 15721, Australian Provost Coy. 7th Australian Div. who have been recommended for an M.M. and B.E.M. respectively They set off on foot to AGHIOS DIMITRIOS where they took a boat to ANOUBIANT(?) and then to AGION OROS. They had no luck getting a boat and went back to VATOPEDI where they were looked after by two brothers.

L/Bdr. Brown then lived in a hut in the hills above VATOPEDI with Pte. PETROU, L/Cpl. Watson and Sgt. STUART BROWN, Nx 4120, 2/1st Bn. A.I.F. who has also been recommended for an M.M. They were joined by other escaped British P/W and finally in April by W/Cdr. HOWELL, who spoke highly of the community as follows:

"A party of ten to twenty British and Imperial soldiers escaped from German hands during the summer of 1941. They were supported in the hills by villagers of ORMYLLA and VATOPEDI. They remained in this district throughout the winter living in the hills with very little cloting, barefoot for several weeks, and often going without food for three days. In addition the majority of them contracted malaria and two of them were extremely ill.

Many stories could be told of the patience, endurance and the determination of all these men."

Of the two BROWNS he says:

"I wish to make a special mention of Sgt. STUART BROWN and L/Bdr. HAROLD BROWN who were largely responsible in my opinion, for the high degree of moral maintained by this party."

As the food got scarcer, the party split up. The two BROWNS and Pte. PETROU wnet again in the direction of AGION OROS to try and get a boat. After a fortnight's wandering they returned to spend the night of 3.5.42 in their hut near VATOPEDI. Eraly next morning they heard a boat and reached TURKEY.

This N.C.O.'s performance is afine example of patience, endurance and dogged determination to escape in spite of the odds gainst him."

LG 35715/4158