Kingsley's Story.
Kingsley was born during the March quarter 1895 in Bolton, the youngest son of James and Elizabeth Ann Brown (nee Menzies). In 1901 he is living at 791 Chorley Old Road, Bolton and is 6 years old. His Father was aged 40 and was a drapers manager. His mother was also aged 40 and Kingsley had two elder siblings.By 1911 he has moved to 45 George Street, Altrincham and is aged 16. He is a Shippers Apprentice and had previously been educated at the Bolton Church Institute and the Bradbury High School, Altrincham. He was employed by the firm of John Walkden & Co. Shippers of Lagos, West Africa. He attended St. Georges Church and was a member of Timperley Cricket Club.
He enlisted in August 1914 and trained at Epsom, Mansfield and Salisbury Plain. He was drafted to the front in November 1915 in the Manchester Section of the Public Schools and Universities Batallion. He wrote home about his chum Private Andrew Dunlop Hughes who was killed on June 22nd 1916 at Givenchy. He was killed a short distance from where his brother, Corporal William Isherwood Brown was killed on March 3rd 1916.
The circumstances of Kingsleys death were that the 20th Batallion Royal Fusiliers were on the Somme in July 1916. They were in the 33rd Division, 19th Brigade. The War Diary says that they were in High Wood with the 19th Brigade making an attack on the 20th at 0325hrs in support of the 1st Cameronians and the 5th Scottish Rifles with the 2nd Royal Welsh Fusiliers in reserve. On the 21st they were holding on to their position until relieved by the 100th Brigade at midnight then withdrew to an old bivouacking ground at Mametz Wood. At 1600hrs they withdrew to Buire. From the 2nd to the 23rd the Batallion reorganised with reinforcements (2 officers and 701 other ranks) received between the 24th and the 31st. The number of reinforcements received gives an indication of the severity of the fighting the Batallion was involved in.