Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

George Augustus was born in Linlithgow in 1885, to parents Samuel and Margaret Browse (nee Clark). In 1891, the family were living at Westbourne House, St Lawrence, Jersey, where George’s father was a Private with the 2nd Dragoons and where twins Florence and Beatrice were born that year. On the 1901 Census, the family were living in the New Spynie area of Elgin and his father was employed as a coachman domestic. George had two brothers – Samuel (19), a baker’s apprentice and Percival (1) and six sisters – Margaret (14), Florence (10), Beatrice (10), Lavinia (8), Maud (5) and Constance (3). George (16) was a scholar.

George passed through Peterborough East Station in early July 1916 and in the visitors’ book he gave his address as 13 East Back Street, Bishopmill, Elgin. George served as Company Sergeant Major of the 6th Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders, part of the 51st (Highland) Division. He was awarded the Military Cross for his “conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty” during the Battle of Arras in April/May 1917. His citation read:

“After all his officers had become casualties he consolidated a forward line, and held on against enemy counter-attacks for two days with three platoons. His coolness, powers of leadership, and of keeping up the spirits of his men, who were short of water, rations and ammunition, were most marked.”

The New Elgin War Memorial was sculpted by Aberdeen granite mason Robert Warrack Morrison.  The grey granite memorial depicts  a carved figure of a Seaforth Highlander in full marching order, standing with arms reversed who it is believed was modelled on George Browse. See gallery image.

George’s brother, Samuel Alexander emigrated to Australia in 1912 and served with the Australian Imperial Force 3/46th Battalion of the 12th Infantry Brigade. He was awarded the Military Cross and was killed in action in Belgium on 1 October 1917.

Before the war George had played football for Bishopmill United Football Club and following the war took up the game again playing centre-half for Elgin United.

George married Maggie Geddes on 21 September 1920. He died in Elgin in 1977, aged 92.

Follow this link for 6th Seaforth Highlanders stories from the trenches  http://bit.ly/2nASQWO

Newspaper articles from the Northern Scot dated 1917 and 1918.  Photograph of Elgin War Memorial kindly provided by Moray Council.