Private Harry Brown VC Memorial

This memorial is dedicated to Private Harry Brown, born in Gananoque, Ontario on 11 May 1898, to honour his act of bravery during the First World War.

PRIVATE JOHN HENRY (HARRY) BROWN
VICTORIA CROSS
BORN GANANOQUE 9 MAY 1898
DIED OF WOUNDS 17 AUGUST 1917, AGE 19

JOHN HENRY BROWN ENLISTED IN THE CANADIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
ON 18 AUGUST 1916 AND REPORTED TO
THE 10TH BATTALION IN FRANCE IN LATE JUNE 1917.

ON 15 AUGUST HIS COMPANY CAPTURED HILL 70, JUST EAST OF VIMY RIDGE.
BUT ON 16 AUGUST IT WAS COUNTER-ATTACKED REPEATEDLY.
PRIVATE BROWN DELIVERED A VITAL MESSAGE THROUGH AN INTENSE
ENNEMY ARTILLERY BARRAGE DESPITE HAVING AN ARM ALMOST TORN OFF.
THE MESSAGE SAVED THE LIVES OF MANY COMRADES,
BUT PRIVATE BROWN DIDE OF HIS WOUNDS THE NEXT DAY.
HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE VICTORIA CROSS,
THE HIGHEST HONOUR AWARD FOR BRAVERY IN THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH.
ONLY 94 CANADIANS HAVE EARNED IT SINCE IT WAS CREATED IN 1856.

THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD, AS WE WHO ARE LEFT GROW OLD.
AGE SHALL NOT WEARY THEM, NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN.
AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.