For many, Victoria Cross recipient Walter Brown was a celebrated war hero. But for Launceston’s Dian Smith he was always just ‘Uncle Wal’.
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Born in New Norfolk in the state’s south, Mr Brown was in the camel corps before transferring to infantry during World War I, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in 1917.
He is credited with rushing towards a machine-gun post armed with a hand grenade, taking one officer and 11 men prisoner, all while under heavy fire at Villers-Bretonneux, France.
It was for this he was awarded the Victoria Cross – the highest award for gallantry awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth forces.
Despite being married and over-age, Mr Brown served again in World War II where he is presumed to have died.
He was last seen in Singapore in February 1942, with records crediting his final words as being “no surrender for me”.
Growing up Ms Smith said her childhood was filled with stories about her great-uncle.
Her father, John Brennan, was just 17 years old when he left Tasmania to join Mr Brown in Leeton, NSW in 1930. At the time, Mr Brown was working as a water-bailiff in the NSW Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission.
“My father had such deep respect for Wal and I think in many ways, he passed a lot of his own attributes onto him,” Ms Smith said.
“Wal’s legacy has always been such a big part of our family’s story. He would often return to Tasmania to visit his nieces and nephews.
“Like most men, he never spoke about his experience in the war. Dad always said he was a hard, but fair man. What he did in the war, had to be done. It all had to be done.”
Ms Smith has spent years collating her family’s lineage and history, with her great-uncle’s legacy continuing to be passed down through the generations.
A member of the Northern Midlands RSL, every year Ms Smith proudly attends the Longford Anzac Day service.
She is also one of the organisers behind the Centenary of Armistice Remembrance Concert, which will be held at Albert Hall on November 3.
In the lead up to the event, Ms Smith said her family’s connection to both World Wars had never felt more significant.
“People often say to me to this day – ‘having a Victoria Cross medal recipient in your family you must be so proud’,” she said.
“But, for us it was always something we just knew. As I have gotten older, I understand what a significant achievement it is and how proud we are of it.”
- A special publication commemorating the Centenary of Armistice will appear in Saturday’s edition of The Examiner.
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Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
