Donald Forrester Brown

Donald Forrester Brown
Head and shoulders portrait of a man in military uniform
Born(1890-02-23)23 February 1890
Dunedin, New Zealand
Died1 October 1916(1916-10-01) (aged 26) 
near Eaucourt L'Abbaye, France
Buried
AllegianceNew Zealand
Service/branchNew Zealand Military Forces
Years of service1915–1916
RankSergeant
Service numberNo. 8/3504
Unit2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsFirst World War
AwardsVictoria Cross

Donald Forrester Brown, VC (23 February 1890 – 1 October 1916) was a New Zealand recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for valour "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Born in Dunedin, Brown was a farmer when the First World War began in 1914. In late 1915, he volunteered for service abroad with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) and was posted to the 2nd Battalion, the Otago Infantry Regiment. He saw action on the Western Front, and was awarded the VC for his actions during the Battle of Flers–Courcelette in September 1916. As he was killed several days later during the Battle of Le Transloy, the award was made posthumously. His VC was the second to be awarded to a soldier serving with the NZEF during the war and was the first earned in an action on the Western Front.


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