Holy Week and Easter Services 2023
Palm Sunday 2nd April 9am Traditional Eucharist with Choir. Peace Hall 10:30am Contemporary Eucharist with Sunday School (starting with morning... read more
Francis Brown was the son of Rev. Henry Handley and Sophia Brown. Aged only 16, he was a member of the Taranaki Volunteer Rifle Corps. Francis was killed at the battle of Mahoetahi on 6th November 1860. Fatigue may well have been a factor in his death: According to Margaret Allington's history "Goodly Stones and Timbers", “Lucy Devenish records that Francis Brown, aged 15, was ‘deadly’ tired after a day of mustering sheep and did not hear the bugle call so his father woke him gently saying, ‘ My boy, a soldier must always be ready to do his duty when the bugle calls.’ Francis snatched up his gun and went forth, to his death.” He would have walked from Omata to New Plymouth in the evening, then marched north with the TVRC in the early hours of the morning - about 20 km in total before going in to battle.
His gravestone, probably initially erect, has been reset at an angle on a concrete plinth at some point. As with many memorials, a granite slab with a clearer inscription has been set, but unusually in this case it is in place of part of the original marble.
Inscription
here rest FRANCIS BROWN son of The Rev. Henry Handley and Sophia Wilhelmina Brown who was born March 1st 1845 and killed in action ————— in remembrance of their comrade ————— The trumpet shall sound and the |
< 17 Unknown | Index of Graves | 19 Brown > |