3038 Private James Brown Late The Leinster Regiment
Date	Summary of Events and Information	Reference
15th Mar 1895	James Brown was born to Joseph and Kate Brown of Lysters Square, Maryborough Queens County, Ireland. Now named Portlaoise, County Laoise, Ireland.	John Brown
20th May 1910	James joined the 4th Extra (Special Reserve) Battalion of the Leinster Regiment at Heath Camp, Maryborough. The Special Reserve The Special Reserve was a part time organisation. A soldier joined up for six years. After completing six months basic training he would return to civilian employment and thereafter attend four weeks annual training. The roll of the Special Reserve was at time of war, home garrison duties and to train replacement drafts for the Regular Battalions. James must have had the army in his blood as we can note from the attestation sheet he had been rejected at an earlier date for being under age. He declared his age on enlistment as 17 years 2 months and trade as a labourer.	Attestation Sheet. Western Front Association.
21st May 1910	After passing both Medical and Primary Military Examinations James was attested into the regiment. He was described as being 5 Ft 6 Ins tall, weight 118Lbs, blue eyes, dark brown hair with scars above his right calve and on both knees. Religious calling Roman Catholic. Apart from his parents, James also declares three younger brothers, Thomas, William and Michael all living with the parents at Lysters Lane, Maryborough. William was also to join the Leinster’s and was killed in Action at Ypres in 9th May 1915.	Physical Description Sheet. Military History Sheet. John Brown. CWGC.
20th May 1910. To 19th Oct 1910.	Undertakes his basic training at Heath Camp, Maryborough and from 16th May to 19th May 1911 takes a course in Musketry.	Military History Sheet.
1911 To 1914.	James was present for annual training each year.	Military History Sheet.
5th Aug 1914.	One day after war was declared James and his unit the 4th Battalion are mobilised.	Military History Sheet.
25th Oct 1914. To 8th Aug 1915.	James is posted to the 2nd Battalion and deploys to France. The 2nd Battalion are already in France having deployed on the 12th Sept 1914 they are a unit of 17th Infantry Brigade itself a unit of the 6th Division who are involved in some of the heaviest fighting taking part in. Battle of the Aisne 19th to 20th Sept. Actions on the Aisne Heights 20th Sept. Just prior to James joining the Battalion it had been involved in some very heavy fighting in and around Armentieres. An entry in the war diary on the 23rd Oct 1914 puts the Battalion casualties from the 18th Oct 1914 (five days) at 434 of which 155 were killed. Battle of Armentieres 13th Oct to 2nd Nov 1914. James joined the Battalion during this battle and was probably his first taste of action. The Battalion then settled down to tours of the trench’s in reserve and training.	Military History Sheet. Order of Battle Divisions Pt 1. Unit War Diary.
9th Aug 1915. To 8th Jul. 1915	Hooge 9th Aug 1915. On the 9th August the 6th Division launched a surprise attack in the Hooge area and after some heavy fighting regained all the ground lost since 2nd Jun including the ruins of the Chateau Stables. The 16th and 18th Infantry Brigades made the attack with the 17th Brigade in reserve and used to consolidate the position.	Order of Battle Pt. 1. History Of The Leinster Regiment.
9th Jul 1916. To 30th Mar 1917.	The military history sheet records James was posted to the 10th Battalion the Leinster Regiment. I can find no information on this unit as far as I know the Leinster Regiment, had only seven Battalions? However the military history sheet records this as a home posting. This may have been a medical unit and is just a mistake on the military history sheet. This move was probably as a result of the gunshot wound to his right hand. As we don’t have a casualty report it is not possible to say with any certainty where or when he sustained this wound.	Military History Sheet. British Regiments 1914-1918. Military History Sheet.
31st Mar 1917. To 6th May 1917.	James rejoins his old Battalion the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion. Who are at this time stationed at County Limerick, Ireland.	British Regiments 1914-1918.
7th May 1917. To 6th Sept 1917.	He transfers to the 3rd (Reserve) Garrison Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers. Who are stationed at Bere Island, Bantry Bay, Ireland.	British Regiments 1914-1918.
7th Sept 1917. To 13th Jul 1917.	He again transfers this time to the Labour Corps and joins 361st (Reserve) Employment Company the Labour Corps, stationed in Tipperary.	Military History Sheet.
21st Feb 1917	The Labour Corps The various service and infantry labour units were brought together to form the Labour Corps. There after manned by men but not exclusively, who had been wounded or who through illness were no longer fit for frontline service or men who on enlistment were too old or were not quite fit enough for front line service. The Corps undertook all kinds of work that had previously been done by the soldiers when not in the trenches. Repairing roads, railways, building defences, moving stores, working on farms and in factories to name just a few. By 1918 this element of the Corps numbered some 395000 of which 175000 were employed in the United Kingdom. In March and April 1918 Labour Corps Companies were used as emergency infantry. During the German Spring Offensive (Der Kaiser Schlacht). The Labour Corps also had a foreign element of some 300000 men. Consisting of 100000 Egyptian civilians, 100000 Chinese civilians and 20000 South African civilians some prisoners of war and the remainder being native soldiers from the Empire. These men rarely worked within 10 miles of the front and were employed in the ports and rear areas. At its height the Labour Corps constituted over 10% of the total army strength	Imperial War Museum And Other Sources.
13th July 1917	Posted to the 657th Company, the Labour Corps, stationed in Kildare.	Military History Sheet.
19th Sept 1917.	James marries Elizabeth Keogh (spinster) at the Church of Saint Peter and Paul, Maryborough. The officiating Minister was the Reverend Michael Byrice.	Military History Sheet.
16th Apr 1918.	James is posted for the last time, back to the 361st (Reserve) Employment Company the Labour Corps.	Military History Sheet.
29th Jun 1918	An Army Medical Board sitting at Arbour Hill Dublin authorize James discharge under Kings Regulations for the Army Para 392 (XVI) no longer physically fit for military service. Having served a total of 13 Years and 329 day’s James returns to his wife and new home at Chapel Street, Maryborough, Queens County, with his war bounty of £15. Honours and Awards. 1914 (Mons) Star. British war Medal. Victory Medal. Silver War Badge.(Entitled to but not issued).	Military History Sheet. Medal Index Card. Medal Rolls.