The Hollies. Major Harold Brown, DSO MC

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Mon 09 Jul, 2012 8:04 pm

I first discovered the Hollies properly in the early 80's, game of tennis, a walk or a bike ride.Over the years I have gradually learned more about it and enjoyed more of it, including as a section of the Meanwood Trail from Stairfoot Lane Adel to the Royal Armouries. And back.It has a tragic history but is a wonderful memorial to the lovely young man who's death gave cause to his Father to Gift the house and grounds to Leeds City Council as a Park.I have taken the following information from the web:-Major Harold Brown. Killed in action, aged 39. Born Bournemouth 4th Jan 1879. Home at Kingston Lodge, Leigh Woods, Bristol. He went up to Jesus College, Cambridge where he gained his B.A. While there he enlisted in October 1898 as a Private in the Cambridge University Rifle Volunteers and was commissioned on 21st March 1900.He was promoted to Lt on the 13th June and to Captain on the 28th November of the same year, in which rank he served until his service terminated on the 5th December 1902.He obtained a teaching post at Filey, N Yorks and lived at Linkfield, 61 West Avenue. When War was imminent he re-enlisted on the 14th June 1914 in the local unit of the Territorial Force, the 5th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment and went with them to France on the 18th April 1915.On the 24th July 1915 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and promoted to Captain.On the 6th August he was taken ill with appendicitis and repatriated to the UK, returning to duty abroad on the 4th November 1915.With the 5th Yorks Battn he took part in the 1916 offensive on the Somme and for some action during this time was awarded the Military Cross.On the 16th September 1916, he suffered a gunshot wound to his right foot and damage to his ear from a shell.He was returned again to hospital in the UK and returned to duty on the 23rd November 1916 with his hearing and right foot movement impaired.He was awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palm on the 9th December 1916 and mentioned in Despatches on the 29th December 1916.He was again wounded on the 26th April 1917 by gunshots to his head and thigh and spent a month at No 8 Field Hospital, Rouen before being sent back to hospital at Harrogate, N Yorks. Once again he recovered and was sent back to France on the 15th August 1916. He served as Captain and Brevet Major with the 5th Yorks Battn until the 30 December 1917, when he was promoted to Acting Major and appointed as Second in Command of the 4th Yorks Battn.He was killed in action on the 23rd March 1918 and, his body never having been recovered, is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.A statue of him was placed after the War at the Sledmere Memorial. Major Brown was a friend of Lt. Col Sir Mark Sykes and had founded a school for disabled young men before the war. The last of his four children, Elizabeth, who fondly remembered him, died in America in 2000Major Brown's father presented a house called the Hollies and its gardens [later an old people's home] to Leeds City Council in his Memory.

Johnny39 · Post by **Johnny39** » Mon 09 Jul, 2012 8:24 pm

A very gallant gentleman.

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Mon 09 Jul, 2012 10:10 pm

In contrast to the current-day pondlife that recently tried to jemmy the memorial plaque off the gate

Caron · Post by **Caron** » Mon 09 Jul, 2012 10:50 pm

Hi Jogon. Some time back I tracked down my grt uncle who died on the Somme. He is buried in Thiepval over the tunnels. Anyway, I read about Major Harold Brown as my grt uncle was also in the 5th battalion Yorkshire Regiment. When I read the many times this guy was injured yet still carried on fighting it really conjured up so many feelings inside of me. I planted a load of poppy seeds this year in my garden in memory of my grt uncle and also for the other brave souls who met such a tragic end to their young lives. The poppies are all in flower now and I've named the area in my garden "Walter's patch" (after my grt uncle). I can't believe anyone who says that the thousands of WW1 casualties does not touch them. My grt grandparents had four sons and three of them were fighting on the Somme. One killed. One was brought home injured and the other son was missing for a while but thankfully he was fine.How did the parents survive? So, so very sad.Caron.

Johnny39 · Post by **Johnny39** » Mon 09 Jul, 2012 11:25 pm

I think it's at the end of the film, Oh! What a Lovely War, when the camera focuses on a field of crosses, it, the camera, starts pulling back and pulling back 'til you can see nothing but crosses for miles and miles and I may be wrong but I think the closing music is, "They Didn't Believe Me". I can't stop tears rolling down my face everytime I see it.

biofichompinc · Post by **biofichompinc** » Mon 09 Jul, 2012 11:40 pm

Johnny39 wrote: I think it's at the end of the film, Oh! What a Lovely War, when the camera focuses on a field of crosses, it, the camera, starts pulling back and pulling back 'til you can see nothing but crosses for miles and miles and I may be wrong but I think the closing music is, "They Didn't Believe Me". I can't stop tears rolling down my face everytime I see it. And here it is Johnny39....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f95idVQEXIGreat film. Great musical. Compulsory viewing. And I can't remember it ever being on TV, although I am probably wrong.

Johnny39 · Post by **Johnny39** » Mon 09 Jul, 2012 11:53 pm

salt 'n pepper wrote: Johnny39 wrote: I think it's at the end of the film, Oh! What a Lovely War, when the camera focuses on a field of crosses, it, the camera, starts pulling back and pulling back 'til you can see nothing but crosses for miles and miles and I may be wrong but I think the closing music is, "They Didn't Believe Me". I can't stop tears rolling down my face everytime I see it. And here it is Johnny39....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f95idVQEXIGreat film. Great musical. Compulsory viewing. And I can't remember it ever being on TV, although I am probably wrong. Thanks for that "salt'n pepper" it never fails. It has been on TV but not for a very long time. I don't know if it would be appreciated by audiences of today, much too subtle.

Caron · Post by **Caron** » Tue 10 Jul, 2012 12:00 am

I too get very upset and don't care who knows. I'm glad that suffering upsets me, I'd be more worried if it didn't.I am going to watch the Somme 76 documentary now on the You Tube link you posted so better go grab lots of tissues.Thanks for posting it.Caron.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 10 Jul, 2012 12:08 am

There was a similar very poignant ending to the otherwise comedy Blackadder one set in the First World War.

Caron · Post by **Caron** » Tue 10 Jul, 2012 12:16 am

Leodian wrote: There was a similar very poignant ending to the otherwise comedy Blackadder one set in the First World War. Yes. Certainly brought a lump to my throat.It's on the You Tube link Leodian posted on this thread by SnP.Caron.