Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Major

Unit:

C Company, 2/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, 138th Infantry Brigade, 46th Infantry Division, British Army

Awarded on:

February 21st, 1946

"On 17 September, 1943, near Solemo, Captain Brown was in command of a company ordered to attack a feature known as White Cross Hill. His company started to attack but came under heavy machine gun fire and was eventually held up. In spite of this, Captain Brown rushed forward followed by one other officer and succeeded in reaching the objective. He then sent back the officer who was with him to try and bring more men up by a different route. He himself armed only with a pistol and grenade held the summit of the hill against continual attacks from several quarters and was seen to kill a number of enemy. The remainder of his company which had suffered heavy casualties in this attack were unable to reach him in spite of repeated attempts and he was last seen holding out by himself and being attacked on all sides. His determination to each the objective and his fierce fighting entirely unsupported when he had reached it not only inspired his company to renewed efforts to reach him and drive back the enemy, but undoubtedly also gave them the opportunity to reorganize after severe casualties and prevented further penetration bu the enemy which might otherwise have occurred with most serious results."

Posthumously awarded