BROWN George Trevor
Lieutenant George Trevor BROWN
Royal Flying Corps
Killed in a Flying Accident aged 25 on 12th February 1917
He was a former member of the 6th Welsh and had seen service in France before getting a commission in the R.F.C.
Son of the John Samuel BROWN, Ironmonger and Motor Engineer and Elizabeth BROWN (stepmother Emily E. BROWN) of 'Oakleigh', Blackpill, Swansea. He had an older brother Arthur Percy b. 1890 and a sister Averill 7 years younger
Research suggests that 'Oakleigh' was situated near the lower part Derwen Fawr Road, near Blackpill
George was born in Swansea in 1892 and before joining up he was an apprentice Ironmonger at his fathers, long established business at 20-21 Oxford St, Swansea (S .J. BROWN’S)
He joined the Glamorgan Yeomanry at the outbreak of the war and later obtained a commission in the Welsh Regiment. He afterwards joined the Royal Flying Corps,
. . . .'At present I am flying Avro's (A V 504) they are tricky but very good practice, because they are frightfully sensitive on the controls. I think I shall be flying B2. 2 Ce & B.E12s next week . . . ‘
. . . 'The weather is very cold and windy at present, so there is very little flying going on . . . '
Letter from Trevor to Percy, 11th Jan. 1917
We are grateful to Caroline Sambrook for sharing the letter,
and are showing the Letterheading and two extracts here
Lieutenant George Trevor BROWN
A newspaper account stated:
'Mr J.S. Brown, a well-known Swansea ironmonger and motor engineer; has received information that his youngest son, Second Lieutenant George Trevor Brown, was killed on Monday while flying over Salisbury Plain. It is understood he met his death while engaged in testing a machine. He only left home for duty last Saturday. He was 23 years (sic) of age'
At The inquest It was stated that although nobody saw two planes come into contact, it was assumed that there had been a collision as one aeroplane fell to earth and directly afterwards the other came down
The other officer killed in the accident that day was Second Lieutenant Gordon Ivor Wilson, aged 20 from Bridgwater
Edited extracts from the book. Wales and the First Air War 1914-1918, by Dr Jonathan Hicks
South Wales Daily Post, 19 February 1917
There were impressive scenes at his Mumbles Funeral. A firing party attended, as well as a squad of men from the Shropshire Regiment.
The coffin was draped with the Union Jack and conveyed from the house on a gun carriage drawn by two horses.
The grave inscription to Lieutenant George Trevor Brown, Royal Flying Corps, at Oystermouth Cemetery, Mumbles
Commemorated with Honour on the Blackpill Memorial at Clyne Chapel, Rood Screen Great War Memorial All Saints' Church, Oystermouth and Mumbles (Southend) Memorial.
Blackpill Memorial at Clyne Chapel
