Walter Ernest Brown (VC, DCM & Bar) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was 33 years old, and a Corporal in the 20th Bn. (N.S.W.), Australian Imperial Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 6 July 1918 at Villers-Bretonneux , France on his own initiative, Corporal Brown rushed a machine-gun post, which had been causing great inconvenience by persistent sniping. Despite being fired on by another machine-gun, he continued to his objective and with a Mills grenade in his hand, he stood at the door of the dug-out and called on the occupants to surrender. One of the enemy rushed out and scuffled with him, but was knocked down by the corporal's fist. One officer and 11 men then surrendered and he brought them back as prisoners, again under heavy machine-gun fire.

He was killed in action, Malaya, on 28 February 1942.

He later achieved the rank of Sergeant.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial (Canberra, Australia).

Reference

• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• VCs of the First World War - Spring Offensive 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 1997)

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.