John BROWN, M.C.

John BROWN. M.C. and Bar. Captain, 8th attached to 1st Royal Irish Rifles. Born 1895 to Samuel Stewart Brown the Assistant Postmaster of Belfast and Agnes. 1901 residing with his parents and siblings at 2 Oakland Avenue, Belfast. 1911 still at the same address, father now a widower. Occupation, apprentice lined warehouseman. About the time of his death he resided at 3 Ailsa Terrace, Holywood Road, Belfast, Ireland. Awarded the Royal Humane Society's Bronze Medal and Certificate for saving life from drowning at Belfast in Sept., 1916. Killed in action 21 March 1918 aged 23 years.

He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France.
Commemorated on Ballymacarrett War Memorial

The following extract is credited to Digital Belfast Telegraph -
Plans to honour WWI hero who saved boy's life.

A Decorated WWI hero who saved the life of a drowning boy in the River Lagan while on recovery leave could be honoured at the scene of his gallantry. Captain John Brown MC was killed on his return to action. He was wounded in the shoulder at the opening of the Battle of the Somme on July 1, but not before being awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry in action. An evening rescue scene was witnessed on Friday afternoon at the spot where Albert Bridge spans the River Lagan. While crossing the bridge in a tramcar Second Lieutenant John Brown, who has won the Military Medal in the field, and who is at present at home recovering from a wound in the shoulder, observed a crowd looking over the parapet. He hurried off the car and saw a boy in the water in imminent danger of being drowned. Having thrown off his coat, Lieutenant Brown climbed over the railing and jumped into the water, which was about eight feet deep. He grasped hold of the boy, but his progress towards the shore was considerably hindered by the thick mud, which rendered footing almost impossible. With the assistance of the police and several of the onlookers the plucky rescuer and the lad were brought safely to land. Lieutenant Brown did receive the bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society for his bravery and after recovering from his wounds returned to the front and received a bar to his Military Cross early in 1917. The soldier was reported wounded and missing on March 21, 1918, the day the great German offensive opened, on the battlefield at Contescourt.