Joseph Brown was born in Thame in 1896 (baptised 15th Apr 1897) , one of three children of Ada Brown, and was adopted by Arthur Bateman when he married Joseph’s mother in 1907.

Whilst employed as a local farm worker, and living in North Street, he enlisted with the 4th Battalion of the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry (Territorial Force) in early 1914 (service number 2069). By 1918 he had risen to the rank of Corporal and was serving with the 2/4th Battalion (service number 200329).

In March of that year, the battalion suffered heavy casualties during the last major German offensive of the war, and almost ceased to exist as a viable fighting unit. Having received reinforcements, in April the Battalion was engaged in fighting around St Venant in Northern France where Joseph Brown was killed on 16th April 1918.

His accrued army pay and war gratuity, totalling £27 2s.6d, was sent to his mother Ada, who was now living in Towersey Road.

He is buried in the St Venant-Robecq Road British Cemetery, Robecq, France and remembered on Thame War Memorial.