BROWN, Frank Loseby (1878-ca.1931)

MR. FRANK LOSEBY BROWN, the Town Engineer of Kroonstad, is a native of Walsall, in Staffordshire, England, where he was born in the year 1878. He is the seventh son of John Brown, Esq., the well-known cricketer of that town. Having completed his studies at the Walsall Bluecoat School, he commenced life by becoming articled to Mr. R. H. Middleton, A.M.I.C.E., Borough Engineer, of Walsall, with whom he remained for a period of eight years. On the completion of his articles he was appointed fourth engineering assistant, and some eighteen months later third engineering assistant to that Corporation.

In June 1902 he received the appointment from 160 candidates as Engineering Assistant to the Corporation of Durban, Natal, where he remained for the following two and a half years.

In November 1904 he was appointed Town Engineer for the Kroonstad Municipality from no fewer than 128 applicants, and at the date of penning these notes retains that position.

Mr. Brown holds the diploma as a member of the Incorporated Association of Municipal and County Engineers of England and is an Associate of the Sanitary Engineers' Institute.

In social circles he takes a leading part as a member of the Operatic Society, of which he is the popular hon. secretary, and is also a member of the cricket and golf clubs. He is a Freemason and a member of the "Morgenster " Lodge of Kroonstad.

Note: Frank Loseby BROWN was married to Amy BROWN, born in 1878 in England, and the couple moved to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1911. He enlisted in the Canadian Army in February 1916. He was still living in Edmonton East, Alberta, Canada in 1931 where he was recorded on the Census records.

Source: Men of the Times, published by The Transvaal Publishing Company, Johannesburg, Cape Town & London, printed by Eyre and Spottiswood, His Majesty’s Printers, 1906, p.528