THE private memorial to World War I Victoria Cross recipient Walter Ernest Brown is languishing neglected in Woronora Cemetery on the eve of the Anzac Centenary.
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Because it is a private memorial placed there by his wife Maude as part of their son's grave, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is not responsible for it and there appears to be no family members left to care for it.
Walter Ernest Brown was a WWI Victoria Cross recipient and a WWII hero who was killed in Singapore in 1942. No trace of his body was found.
At the time of his death, the family lived at 38 Arthur Street, Kogarah.
His son Ernest died of meningitis the following year, aged seven, and was buried at Woronora.
Mrs Brown placed the small personal memorial on their son's grave. There is an official memorial in Singapore.
Mr and Mrs Brown had one other child, Pamela. Her whereabouts are unknown. The grave does not appear to have been tended for a number of years.
The Leader was alerted to the neglected grave by reader Dale Chatwin.
‘‘I have been visiting the grave sites of my relatives for many years and have always stopped and remembered at this memorial,’’ Mr Chatwin said.
‘‘I can’t understand why the RSL has let this memorial to a VC winner disintegrate.’’
The Leader made inquiries with the RSL about the memorial and were referred to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in Canberra.
‘‘It appears there is nobody in the family left to look after it and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission won’t do anything,’’ Mr Chatwin said.
‘‘In this Gallipoli remembrance year, when tens of millions of dollars are being spent on all sorts of activities, we should be able to do something better for a VC winner and his young son.’’
Woronora Memorial Gardens chief executive Graham Boyd said: ‘‘We are very keen to contact Pamela, the sister of Ernest, or her descendants who can assist. We want to look at options for the upkeep of the memorial to honour this VC recipient.’’
COURAGE UNDER FIRE
Walter Ernest Brown (pictured) grew up New Norfolk, Tasmania, and worked as a grocer in Hobart.
He moved to Sydney in 1911 and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force as an infantryman on July 26, 1915.
He fought on the Western Front and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for attending the wounded under heavy fire at Passchendaele.
At Accroche Wood in early 1918, he located a sniper’s post, picked up two Mills bombs and ran towards it under fire.
His first bomb fell short, but on reaching the post he knocked one German down with his fist and threatened the others with his remaining grenade.
When they surrendered, Brown ordered them back to the Australian lines. He had captured 13 men, including one officer.
He was awarded the Victoria Cross.
He returned safely to Australia and married Maude Dillon, an Irishwoman, in Christ Church, Bexley, in 1932.
In June 1940, he enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force, giving his age as 40 instead of 54.
He joined the 2/15th Field Regiment, which was part of the ill-fated 8th Division, reaching Malaya in August 1941.
He was last seen on February 14, 1942, the night before the Allied surrender at Singapore.
Picking up some grenades he said to his comrades ‘‘No surrender for me’’ and walked towards enemy lines. He was presumed to have died while trying to escape on February 28.
Who should be responsible for the upkeep of Walter Brown’s memorial?
