Horace Brown, born 27th August 1882 in Acocks Green, was the son of colliery manager James Brown, who was born in Walsall, and of Henrietta Barker, originally from Hackney in London. One of four surviving children, Horace was educated at King Edwards High School in New Street. The family was well-off, keeping two servants.

Horace became a bank clerk, and continued to live at home – “The Chase”, 8, Highfield Road, Moseley, a ten-room house - into his thirties. His older brother George had emigrated to Canada.
Horace joined the 2nd / 5th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was killed in action during the later part of the Battle of the Somme, on 19th October 1916, aged 34. Torrential rain had turned the whole are into a sea of mud, and the 19th October saw particularly heavy rainfall.

This was during the fighting named the Battle of the Ancre Heights. Numerous attacks and counter attacks were made during the month of October in attempts to gain or regain higher ground, and by the 24th the Allies had advanced 500 yards in three weeks– a huge advance by the standards of the war up until then.

Horace is buried in Laventie Military Cemetery. His gravestone inscription reads: “UNTIL THE DAY BREAK AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY”.
In his will Horace left over one thousand pounds.