ATB started his career on sailing ships, either as a runaway or an apprentice (Singapore Straits Times, 1938).
Just before the 1st war he was Captain of an IoM ferry, joined the White Star company and joined the Royal Navy as an RNR officer in the First World War.
[9][10] He retired from the Naval List on 10 April 1928 with the rank of captain.
[2] Captain Brown delivered the RMS Mauretania from retired lay-up in Southampton, to the breakers, arriving at Rosyth, in Scotland, at about 0600 hrs.
[11] He died aboard onboard at Port Said in 1942 from the exhaustion of being in command on unaccompanied transits of hostile waters.