MILITARY HISTORY
Signalman Victor Brown – B 94624 – Active Service (World War II)
On September 9th, 1939 Victor Brown completed the Attestation Paper for the Canadian Active Service Force (CASF) at Peterborough, Ontario. He was 21 years 11 months old when, as a married man, he enlisted in Peterborough for the duration of the War. Victor was born in Lakefield, Ontario and gave his birthdate as November 7th, 1917. He lists his present address as Lakefield, Ontario. Victor had one child; a baby girl. Victor indicated that he had no previous Military experience and he had not served in an Active Formation or Unit of The Canadian Army.
He indicated he had previously worked three years in a grocery store, and as guide and taxi driver. He had also operated a tobacco store and Billiard room in Chemong, Ontario. Victor also worked as a mechanic from July 1936 to February 1938 for Frank S. Coyle. Victor was 5′ 11″ tall, weighed 150 pounds, had a 35 1/2″ chest (expanded), he had dark complexion brown eyes and brown hair. Victor completed Grade 8 at the Lakefield School at 13 years old and studied Motor Mechanics for 3 years (grade 11) at a Technical school (PCVS) in Peterborough. His next-of-kin was listed as his wife, Mrs. Dorothy Mae Brown living at 18 Suffolk St., Toronto, Ontario.
Victor Brown’s enlistment medical examination took place in Peterborough on December 18th, 1939. The Certificate of Magistrate was signed by the Justice in Peterborough on January 9th, 1940. On January 9, 1940 Victor Brown was taken-on-strength with the 31st Regiment. He was assigned the Rank of Private – Fitter “A” and Service Number B 94624. Victor indicates that he was not insured.
Signalman Brown was shipped overseas in January 1940 and worked as a Class “A” fitter until December 1944 when he was reclassified as Vehicle Mechanic MV “A”.
Signalman Brown became seriously ill with Benign Lymphocytic Meningitis in the summer of 1941 and was placed in the Number 15 General Hospital, Bramshott, England and listed on the “seriously ill list” until his recovery on the 16th September 1941.
The 31st regiment mobilized ‘The Elgin Regiment, CASF’ on 24 May 1940. This regiment was converted to armour and re-designated the ’25th Armoured Regiment (The Elgin Regiment), CAC’ on 26 January 1942. It embarked for Britain on 29 September 1942 as a unit of the 3rd Armoured Brigade, 4th Canadian Armoured Division. The ‘1st Canadian Tank Delivery Squadron’ (formed from “B” Squadron, 25th Armoured Regiment (The Elgin Regiment) on 6 May 1943) landed in Sicily on 16 July 1943 and in Italy on 14 September 1943. The regiment was converted and re-designated ’25th Canadian Tank Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment), CAC’ on 15 September 1943, and on 21 October 1943 the 1st Canadian Tank Delivery Squadron was re-designated “A” Squadron, 25th Canadian Tank Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment), CAC. On 15 March 1944 it was re-designated ’25th Armoured Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment), CAC’. One squadron landed in Normandy on 8 June 1944, followed by Headquarters and other squadrons in July 1944. The squadron in Italy moved to North-West Europe in March 1945. The overseas regiment was disbanded on 15 February 1946.
According to his military service records, Signalman Brown worked as a vehicle mechanic in the United Kingdom, and Continental Europe for the duration of the war.
On October 28th, 1944 Victor’s wife wrote to the Military Secretary in Ottawa, expressing concern that she had not received a letter from her husband in three (or more) months and asking the army to send a signal to her husband to write to his wife (which they did!)
On November 23rd, 1944, The Deputy Minister of the army responded to a companionate request from Victor’s wife for Victor’s leave in Canada (available) to soldiers who had been enlisted for a long period of time, and refused the request, due to the limited openings available and the preference for soldiers who had served long periods of direct battle service.
However, based on Compassionate grounds the army recommended Signalman Brown’s return to Canada in January 1945. Signalman Brown was evacuated to the 1st Canadian Reception Depot on the 6th of April 1945.
On November 5th, 1945 Signalman Brown was Discharged from the Canadian Army to return to civil life (on demobilization) and granted a Clothing Allowance of $100.00 and a Rehabilitation Grant at No 3 District Depot, Kingston, Ontario.
Also, on October 22, 1945 Signalman Brown applied for his War Service Gratuity (WSG). On November 27, 1945, his WSG was calculated as $1358.25; this amount was paid to him in monthly instalments of $150.91.
According to Signalman Brown’s Military File he served a total of 68 months and with the Canadian Active Service Force one months and two days in Canada: and five years, seven months overseas.
Signalman Brown’s Military File indicates that he was eligible to receive the following Medals:
1939 – 45 Star;
France & Germany Star;
Defence Medal;
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp; and
War Medal 1939
Mrs. Dorothy Mae Brown (his wife) wrote to the Department of Veterans Affairs on June 26th, 1984 asking if it was possible to receive her husband’s war medals as they had never been received, however there is no answer to this letter contained in the military file.
After his discharge Victor Brown opened a service station at his mother’s store in Burleigh Falls, Ontario
An excerpt from an article in Maclean’s by Barbara Ameil, September 1996:
”The Military is the single calling in the world with job specifications that include a commitment to die for your nation. What could be more honorable”.
PERSONAL HISTORY
VICTOR ANDREW BROWN
Victor Andrew Brown was born in Lakefield on November 7, 1918, the son of Frances Ellenor Parsons and Franklin Steven Brown of Lakefield. In 1922 his father suffered a heart attack and died. Victor received his education at Lakefield Public School completing Grade 8 at 13 years of age. He then attended PCVS in Peterborough taking the Trades Program studying Motor Mechanics for three years.
For three years he worked in his parents Grocery Store and also acted as a guide and truck driver. He owned and operated a Billiard Room in Lakefield and a Dance Pavilion on Chemong for one year and then sold both businesses. From July 1936 until 1938, he worked for Frank S. Coyle in Lakefield before starting his own businesses which he operated from February 1938 until May 1939. While living in Lakefield, Victor married Dorothy Mae Hurl in 1938. Dorothy Mae Hurl was born in Lakefield on May 7, 1921, daughter of Cora Mary Cummings and Norman Douglas Hurl. They made their home in Lakefield in 1939 with their daughter Annette until Vic was stationed overseas in January 1940. Dorothy and Annette lived with relatives in Toronto until later in 1940 when they moved to Burleigh Falls to live with Fran. Dorothy eventually became the Postmaster at Burleigh until 1946.
Victor enlisted to serve his King and Country on September 9, 1939 and served overseas until his discharge in Toronto on July 6, 1945. While overseas, his mother moved to Burleigh Falls in 1939 and
Fran ran the Trading post for one year and in 1940 she purchased the property the store was to be built on and started construction. The store eventually housed the first Burleigh School and Church Services for a young Rev. Willard Day. Fran and Dorothy operated the store until Fran’s sons returned home from overseas in late 1945. Shortly after Vic’s return, he purchased the lot next to the store to build his garage at Burleigh Falls with the help of a War Service Gratuity in the amount of $1,358.25, pushed through by his local M.P. Gordon K. Fraser. This enabled Vic to get the materials necessary for the building and accomplish his dreams. Vic and Dorothy now had two children with the arrival of Michael. In 1946 Vic’s brother Bob with his wife Lorraine moved to Burleigh from Pennsylvania. Bob served three years in the U.S. 3rd Army Tank Corp, seeing Active Duty in the European Theatre eventually raising their two sons Craig and Roger in Burleigh. Bob went into partnership with Vic to operate the popular family business. They eventually added six Rockaway Fishing Cottages across the Road on Highway #28 and later a Marina was established on Lovesick Lake as well. The B/A service station and grocery store at Burleigh Falls was the Brown family business known as Rockaway Store, Cottages and Service Station for many years.
During the summer months, Vic was too busy with the garage and cottages for much recreational activity; however, during the fall and winter months he loved to hunt ducks, deer and moose in northern Ontario. He was also involved in Minor hockey for four years from 1960-19 64when his son played in Lakefield. He was Manager of the Commercial Hotel bantams and the Kinsmen Midgets, coached by Neil Wasson and Joe Blewett as Assistant Trainer with Charlie Crawford as the Trainer. His wife Dorothy donated a trophy to the Lakefield Minor Hockey league in Vic’s memory – the midget “Most Valuable Player Award” the first season after Vic passed away.
Vic also enjoyed curling at the Lakefield Curling Club and each winter bowled evenings in Lakefield with the Burleigh Falls Bowling League. He was also a Member of the Peterborough Lions Club and a dedicated Member of the Lakefield Legion from the time of his return home until his passing in 1966. Sadly Vic Brown passed away suddenly in his 47th year on July 1, 1966 while actively working in the family business. In 1967 the properties were bought by Parks Canada. Later Dorothy married Ronald Robinson in December 1967. She passed away on June 1, 2004; both Vic and Dorothy are buried in Lakefield Cemetery.
ROCKAWAY STORE, COTTAGES & SERVICE STATION
FAMILY HISTORY OF VICTOR ANDREW BROWN
The paternal grandparents of Victor Andrew Brown were Sarah Alice Ponson and James Brown.
The maternal grandparents of Victor Andrew Brown were Mary Ann Parkhman and William Parsons.
The parents of Victor Andrew Brown were Frances “Fran” Ellenor Parsons was born in Surrey, England in 1888 and had worked in France as a family Nanny before coming to Canada. Franklin S. Brown was born in New York, United States in 1888 and worked as a glass cutter before immigrating to Canada. After coming to Canada he worked for Gundy Capitan and Roden Rogers in Toronto. Franklin Steven Brown married Frances “Fran” Ellenor Parsons in Toronto on November 22, 1913. In 1919 Franklin joined the Colonial Glass in Lakefield, later known as the Lakefield Glass Company. The factory was started by William Leggott in 1916 and was located on Queen Street near Water Street. Franklin was a highly acclaimed glass cutter and his glass was displayed at the Canadian National Exhibition. Franklin and Fran made their home on Albert Street in Lakefield. By 1922 they had four boys – Herrick “Eric”, John, Victor Andrew and Robert “Bob” Wilburn Brown.
In 1921, the glass company declared bankruptcy due to declining sales. A year later an attempt was made to revive the glass company with Franklin Brown in charge. William Leggott offered to let Franklin use the same old factory and Wilbert Leonard was to provide financial backing. Franklin had received an order from a Toronto firm and went to bed that evening anticipating the start of production in the morning. But sadly during the night Franklin suffered a heart attack and passed away in 1922 at the young age of 36 years leaving Fran with four young boys.
Later Fran married Maxwell R. Smith from Apsley and they operated a grocery store on Queen Street in Lakefield from 1936 to 1939. Fran with Victor’s wife Dorothy and daughter Annette moved to Burleigh Falls in 1940. Fran worked at the Trading Post for a year then purchased the lot the store is on, built the store and operated it until her sons returned home. Fran passed away in 1981; both Franklin and Fran are buried in the Hillside Cemetery in Lakefield.
Victor Andre Brown is remembered and honoured on a framed document that hangs in St. John the Baptist Anglican Church in Lakefield Ontario.
