Written by Randy Evans, special to The Sarnia Journal

(2016) The west wing of Sarnia’s Cenotaph contains the names of 116 Sarnians who died as a result of The First World War.

While each has a different story, they all share a substantial connection to Sarnia and death while in service.

From the records, the where and why of death apparently doesn’t matter, so long as it occurred while a member of the Allied forces during The Great War.

So it’s difficult to comprehend why the Cenotaph doesn’t include the name of Air Cadet Nelson William Brown.

Nelson Brown was born in Sarnia on June 6, 1898 to William and Martha Brown, of 462 North Christina St. He and his six siblings were raised at the family home. He attended local elementary and high schools, and the family had a coal, wood and ice enterprise at 226 Front St.  They attended the Free Methodist Church on Russell St. North.

In October of 1918 Brown left Sarnia for Toronto and enlisted in the Royal Air Force. 

Tragically, just days after entering the service, the Air Cadet contracted the deadly Spanish influenza and succumbed to it on Oct. 22, 1918.

His body was returned to Sarnia and two days later the funeral service and interment took place at Lakeview Cemetery.

It was front-page news in the Sarnia Observer:

 “The funeral of the late Air Cadet Nelson William Brown was attended by a large number of friends yesterday,” it stated. “Young Brown was popular and well liked by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. “

He was 20 when he died.  The War would end just 21 days later.

On Nov. 7, 1921, a special delegation of local ministers and members of the Great War Veterans Association attended the local graves and memorials of veterans for Remembrance purposes.  The veteran’s stone and resting place of Brown was among those respected.

He is also memorialized in the sacred Books of Remembrance in the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill.

Why his name is not on Sarnia’s Cenotaph is anyone’s guess.

But it is clear – abundantly clear – that Air Cadet Nelson William Brown should have a place of honour there.