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Rank : Lt Col

Army Number : 4859388

Unit : 5th Bn, 2/5th Bn

Biography :

Educated at the Stoneygate and Wyggeston Schools, Leicester and Rossall School, Lancashire, Sidney Brown enlisted as Private 4859388 in 5th Battalion The Leicestershire Regiment (T.A.) in 1938. He was commissioned 2Lt on 21.7.1939, and became OC HQ Company 2/5th Battalion on its formation. He went to France with the Battalion in April 1940 as OC HQ Company in the rank of Captain. When the German breakthrough took place in May 1940, the Battalion moved into Belgium and he was taken prisoner during the retreat to Dunkirk. He spent five years in Germany as a Prisoner of War. Awarded the T.D. in 1945 when he left the Amy. His commission document is in the collection of Leicester City Museums Service. Immediately on his return from Germany and whilst awaiting demobilisation he became Adjutant of the City Battalion of the Army Cadet Force, taking over command in 1946 with the temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel and holding command for three years.

Extract from the 'Lord Mayors of Leicester' website:

1958 ALDERMAN SIDNEY BROWN

On leaving school in 1924, he joined his father, Thomas William Brown, in the family business of Rockleys Limited, Outdoor Advertising Contractors. In 1928 the name of the Company was changed to Mills and Rockleys, Ltd., following the amalgamation of a number of Midland companies and on his return from war service in 1945, he took his father's place on the board of directors.

In the early 1930s he became interested in Boys' Club work and took over the leadership of the Shaftesbury St. George's Boys' Club in George Street, Leicester. He ran that Club himself until the outbreak of war. During his year of office he was elected President of the Leicester and Leicestershire Association of Boys' Clubs.

He became interested in political work through assisting in the Melton division in 1931 and later in the East Leicester division. In 1938 he was asked to stand as the Conservative candidate for Aylestone ward and was elected a member of the City Council. In 1949 he was elected an Alderman.

He has served on a number of Committees but his chief interest has been in the Education and Children's Committees. For some years he was Vice-Chairman of the Education Committee but relinquished this in 1954 to become Vice-Chairman of the Children's Committee on which he has served since its inception in 1949.

During the whole of his service on the Council he has taken a keen interest in the Junior Approved School at Desford, serving first of all as Vice-Chairman of the Committee and since 1949 as Chairman. Through his interest in this work he has served on a number of national committees and is at present Vice Chairman of the Association of Approved School Managers.

He is chairman of the Governors of five secondary schools, among which is the Wyggeston School, which he attended as a boy.

Alderman Brown was High Bailiff of the City in 1950/51, during the Lord Mayoralty of Alderman F. E. Oliver. Alderman Brown's sister, Miss Margery Brown, was Lady Mayoress. He was Lord Mayor of Leicester in 1958/59. An outstanding event of his year of office was the Installation of Lord Adrian as Chancellor of the newly chartered University of Leicester. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire on 2.5.1962, and was also a Justice of the peace for the County.

During his year of office, Alderman Brown continued his great interest in every phase of youth work and did as much as possible to encourage increased membership of youth organisations and to foster the spirit of Leadership.

Copyright Leicester City Council, New Walk Centre, Welford Place LE1 6ZG

Date of Birth : 17.7.1906

Place of Birth : Leicester

Date of Death : 25.1.1988

Place of Death : Leicester

Civil Occupation : Company Director, Mills & Rockleys

Period of Service : 1938-45

Conflicts : WWII

Places Served : France, Belgium, Germany (POW)