New Britain herald., 1919-02-12
UNDER TWO FLAGS.
 IS BROWNS RECORD
Local Man Served With British
 Then United States Army

After having served in the British navy, the British army and the Am- erican army since the outbreak of the great war, Frank Brown of IS Com merciaI street has been discharged from service and returned to his home in this city. Brown fought ia the Verdun, Chateau-Thierry and the Argonne forest battles and was gassad during the heavy fighting il the last battle. He was attached to an artil- lcry division of the American army and saw much of his service with this unit, although he also served in France with the British forces ia the early part of the war, and was twice wounded while wearing the English uniform.
 Joins British Army.
 Brown, who is 46 years of age en- listed in the English navy in 1915 and served on British steamship for five months. At the end of that period he was discharged and enlisted immedi- ately in the English land forces. Ho was assigned to the 14th Manchestera infantry. and with this unit went to France, where he served for two years. He was wounded in the right ! hip and the left knee and was Il { months confined to a hospital. When i
 
 he was sent back to England and re- 1 turned to the United States December !. IF, 1917. Soon after arriving in Am erica he enlisted in a field artillery detachment and was sent overseas in May, 1918 landing at Brest, France. Private Browns experiences in France are told by the ex-s0ldier as follows: /
 "The field artillery detachment of 5oI !, Bordeaux camps with complete artil- l lery equipmen including horses and were immediately sent to the Marne sector. We arrived at Chateau Thier- r+y, ten days after the battle of the Marne, where we witnessed the de- struction of this section of France. After a 24 hour rest we were sent to the Vesle river where we saw our first action under terrific shell fire and continual bombardment from enemy aeroplanes. For fifteen days this was continued and the fourth army corps was then relieved by the fifth corps.
 At St. Nihiel Battle.
 ''The Toule and St. NIihiel battles will be long remembered by the fourth army corps. The St. Mihiel drive was one of the most important of the war, and was the cause of the Hun downfall. Here the American Million Dollar Barrage' was set up with big guns standing hub-to-hub and lasting from 1 a. m. to D. m. With the aid of this barrage, the Americans were able to drive ahead a distance of twelve miles, and take thousands of prisoners.
 At the Argonne forest. the artil- lery corps was held up ten hours at Dead Mans Hill, which was very ,4cJxz cd iIo0 a C 100000 died while defending Verdun oI{ this hill. It was at this point that the French had their heaviest losses of the war, 5000 men having died in eleven minutes in one of the battles before Verdun. On the 26th of Sep tember we went into action and were 27 days under fire. On the first day, the Germans were driven back seven kilometres, and later at Hill 820 sev- eraI hundred Americans gave up their lives in a mammoth drive. It was here that Hun trickery cost the lives ot a large number of American sol diers. So thick was the underbrush that the opposing armies did not know just where the enemy was un- til someone arose. During the fight several German soldiers arose and throwing up their hands, shouted 'Kanerad.' Several American sol dFers would then arise to take the prisoners and the Germans would hur1 hand grenades and then duck again. The hill was finally taken with \ great loss of life"
 Private Browns experiences, how ever did not end in France. He left France on Christmas day on the Northern Pacific, the ship which was run aground off Fire Island. After eating a fine Christmas dinner aboard and enjoying an uneventful trip across the water, the ship was tossed on rocks off Fire Island and all were in danger of drowning. The men were removed later by the Coast Guard without a casualty, and all were talk cn to the Greenhut hospital in New York.
 Plans to Give Lectures.
 The local soldier wears a number of marks of service on his uniform. Although he rates several stripes for overseas duty he wears but one and likewise wears but one wound stripe \ for three wounds. On his left shoul- der is a green shamrock, the insignia N of the fourth division. He also wears the bar of Allied service and the A American Expeditionary Force ribbon Nas well as an honorable discharge pin from the English government. On his 4 silver discharge pin is inscribed For King and Empire. Service Rendered" Brown plans to give lectures on his ayperiences in this city and elsewhere.