Private Herbert Brownlee

 

Herbert Brownlee was born on 20 April 1896 at Coolyermer, Letterbreen, County Fermanagh, the second of ten children of farmer Christopher Brownlee and his wife Margaret (nee Waterson). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Coolyermer with his parents and seven surviving siblings and working on the family farm. (Another sibling would be born a few years later.)

Brownlee enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron on 2 October 1914 - the third man to join the squadron. He was issued regimental number UD/3). On 5 October 1915 he embarked for France with his squadron, which was then serving as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division.

In June 1916 the Inniskilling squadron joined with C and F Squadrons of the North Irish Horse to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps until August-September 1917 when the regiment was disbanded and its men were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Brownlee, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. Brownlee was issued regimental number 41100. He was posted to A Company.

Brownlee was captured on 27 March 1918 at 'Archan' (Erches?) during the retreat from St Quentin. He was held at camps in Darmstadt and Giessen.

 

Fermanagh Times, 30 May 1918

 

On 26 March 1919, following his repatriation, Brownlee was transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve. He unsuccessfully applied for a disability pension. On 31 December 1919 he married farmer's daughter Sarah Emily Parker in the Enniskillen Registrar's Office. Their child Herbert was born the following year but died the same day. At the time they were living at 62 Verner Street, Belfast, Herbert working as a labourer.

Herbert and Sarah Emily emigrated to Canada in March 1923, settling in the USA soon after. By 1979 he was living in Philadelphia, having retired as manager of the Mayfair Apartments. He died in the Bryn Mawr Hospital on 3 February 1979 and was buried in the Gracelawn Memorial Park.

 

See also the page on Private James Frazer Johnston.

 

This page last updated 7 January 2023.