Brown initially worked as a domestic servant in Thornbury, but moved to Riverton in 1908 to train as a nurse.

[3] In June 1915 Brown enlisted in the New Zealand Army Nursing Service, and was immediately posted overseas.

[2] Brown was on board the SS Marquette in October of that year when it was torpedoed by a German submarine and sunk.

[3] A survivor, Mabel White, saw Brown and her fellow nurse Isabel Clark on the deck of the ship moments after it had been hit.

[3] A portrait of Brown hung in the entry hall of Riverton Hospital for many years, and was later moved to Wallace Early Settlers Museum.