Feature - Hilary Brown, from Montville to Kokoda

In the hills of Montville, the story of Hilary York Seccombe Brown resonates as a testament to courage and sacrifice in the face of war's brutality.

by Doug Patterson, Montville History Group

Hilary York Seccombe Brown, QX13960, was born on 16 September 1921 at the family home, Craglands, Montville, the third son of George Edward (G.E.) Brown and his wife Ruth. He was enrolled at Montville State School in 1927. 

Hilary enlisted at Kelvin Grove Brisbane in July 1940 aged 20 years nine months. He was single and a fruit grower who had previously served as Corporal in the 9/49 Militia, 1939-40. After enlisting in the Second AIF, he was assigned to the 2/25th Infantry Battalion. Hilary’s brother John also enlisted in the AIF.

In August 1941, promoted as acting corporal, Hilary sailed for the Middle East. The 2/25th Battalion served in Syria and Lebanon in their campaign against the Vichy French. The aim was to occupy Vichy French held territory to prevent German bases being set up there. The Vichy French signed an armistice in July 1941. 

The Australian forces stayed on in the Middle East until early 1942 when they returned to Australia in order to fight against the Japanese invasion of New Guinea where they took part in the fighting along the Kokoda track and around Buna-Gona.

Hilary spent his leave at the family home in Montville. A newspaper story in the Nambour Chronicle on May 8, 1942, page 5, reported on a complimentary social evening at the Montville School of Arts on May 5 provided for Corporal Hilary Brown and Private W Marsh. 

“Both men saw service in the Syrian campaign. Corporal Brown had two narrow escapes. In the first case a bullet pierced his tin hat and just grazed his hair. Another bullet struck the webbing of his haversack and grazed his shoulder.” 

The family believes this was probably at Merdjayoun against the Vichy French.

In August 1942 Hilary embarked at Brisbane and sailed to Port Moresby. The unit made a stop at Townsville en route to New Guinea where during a night of shore leave, Hilary was a guest of family friends for dinner, called home to Montville, and wrote his mother a letter. It would be the last time his family would hear from him.

Appointed Acting Lance Sergeant on September 21, he went into action with the Australian troops fighting the Japanese along the Kokoda Track in the Owen Stanley Ranges. Unbeknownst to Australian high command, the Japanese were not retreating in disarray as thought, and had erected a number of strong defensive positions astride the track to delay the Australian advance. 

It was at one of these positions near Templeton’s Crossing at Eora Creek that Hilary’s unit went into action, after having spent a period to the west of the Kokoda Track, shadowing the Japanese withdrawal on an adjacent trail and covering the Australian flank.

On October 18, 1942, three companies of 2/25th Battalion, including D Company in which Hilary was a section leader, were attached to 3rd Battalion which was tasked with undertaking a flanking manoeuvre against the Japanese positions. 

Scaling a high ridge to the east of the Kokoda Track, they were to advance down a number of spur lines towards Eora Creek to envelop the Japanese flank. However, on reaching their objective they were unable to locate the enemy positions, and during the advance D Company lost contact with A Company on its flank, and Hilary was ordered to take his section to find them. 

They completed this task, and Hilary, leaving his section with A Company and with daylight fading, set off alone back through the jungle to report their location to D Company, who had intended to follow Hilary’s section but had been delayed by Japanese snipers. It was the last time Hilary would be seen.

Hilary’s platoon sergeant and friend Hugh Dornan, in a letter to the Brown family after his death, described how they located Hilary’s body two days later after the Australian advance passed through the area. 

It appeared that Hilary had run into a Japanese ambush position and, on his own, had stood little chance. He was remembered by his fellow soldiers as a kind and thoughtful friend who was always able to bring a smile to their faces in even the most trying circumstances.

Hilary was buried in Soputa War Cemetery. His medals include the 1939/45 Star, African Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal.

Hilary was very quiet and devout and family members thought he was destined to a higher calling had he lived. His young life was lost before he had really had a chance to live. 

Like so many others he never knew the joys of coming home to family and community, of having a wife or children. Today great nieces and nephews honour his memory, as do we.