William George Charles Brown was born in Lowestoft on 18th June 1911. His parents were William Arthur and Grace Ellen, (née Drake).
By 1939, William was living with his wife Jessie Gertude (née Ward) in Dorchester house on Dock Lane Melton. His occupation was listed as a plumber – hot water fitter.
At some point after 1941, William enlisted in to the Royal Airforce Volunteer Reserve at Cardington in Bedfordshire and was soon to be posted to Malta at the rank of Aircraftsman 2nd Class.
William died on 1st February 1943 while on an operation and his body was not recovered.
His superior wrote of him:
“He was a fine soldier, and a capable, reliable operator who always did his job well even in uncomfortable circumstances. We shall miss him in the Troop, for his sense of humour and quiet wit. He was one of the older members of my Troop, and exerted a steadying influence on the less stable and immature ones, by his constant calmness and cheer.”
He is remembered on the Malta Memorial which commemorates 2298 airmen who lost their lives serving Commonwealth Air Forces engaged in air battles in the Mediterranean who have no known grave.
His widow, Jessie, married Arthur Benstead in the September quarter 1949.