Story:
Frederick John Bown was born on 13th March 1895 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of Frederick John Bown and Ellen Bown (née Wareham). The family lived at 8 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, moving, by 1911, to Park Road, Blandford, Dorset. Frederick enlisted on the 23rd February 1916 and joined the Royal Flying Corps eventually holding the rank of Corporal (Service No. 23420). On 23rd March 1918 he was compulsorily transferred to the 6th Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps (Service No. 46196) quickly followed by a further transfer to the 5th (Reserve) Battalion of the Guards Machine Gun Regiment (Service No. 2155) finally holding the rank of Sergeant. Whilst with the RFC he had served in France; otherwise he was based at home except for a short period from 27 Jun 1918. He was demobilized on 18th July 1919 and took up residence at 161 Fisherton Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire. He was awarded the Victory and British medals. By the 1921 Census he was shown living with his parents at 159 Fisherton Street, Salisbury, described as a Motor Garage Proprietor He married Violet Annie Courtney in 1925 and they went on to have three children. By the 1939 Register the family had moved to 125 Gigant Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, where he was employed as a Motor Engineer. He died in Salisbury on 16th January 1970.