5553 Pte Birkett Brown, 11th Bn East Lancashire Regt.
Enlisting into the East Lancashire Regiment in September 1914, Birkett , from Hallows Street, Burnley, was initially sent to the 1st Battalion who were in the northern Ypres salient at the time of his arrivalat the front in May 1915. Soon afterwards, a move was made to the Beaumont Hamel sector on the Somme where he was to take part in this great battle. After recovery from slight wounds received at the Somme, Birkett was transferred to the 11th Battalion of the same regiment which had also suffered tremendously. By December 1916, he found himself manning the trenches in the Hebuterne/Rossignol Farm sector with his new battalion. It was here where he was killed in action whilst engaged in routine trench holding duties on 31 December 1916 and Birkett now lies buried in Sailly-au-Bois Cemetery, France.
31 December 1916
Research by David O'Mara, Croonaert Research Services.
