Brown was born in Lesmahagow, Larnarkshire, Scotland to John and Maggie Brown. The Browns emigrated with five children to the small town of Waimatuku, Southland, New Zealand, where they went on to have a further 10 children.
Brown initially worked as a domestic servant in Thornbury, but moved to Riverton in 1908 to train as a nurse. Once qualified, Brown worked in Palmerston North and then in Waimate.[3]
First World War
In June 1915 Brown enlisted in the New Zealand Army Nursing Service, and was immediately posted overseas.[2] Brown was on board the SS Marquette in October of that year when it was torpedoed by a German submarine and sunk.[3]
A survivor, Mabel White, saw Brown and her fellow nurse Isabel Clark on the deck of the ship moments after it had been hit. White saw Brown and Clark join hands and walk together off the deck, leaping into the sea hand-in-hand. Neither Clark nor Brown survived.[3]
Recognition
On 22 November 1915, a memorial service was held in Palmerston North for Brown and fellow Palmerston North staff nurse and Marquette victim Mabel Jamieson.[4]