George Everard Brown was the son of solicitor, George Brown, of Aubrey House in Harton, and his wife, Ada Alice.

George joined the High School in 1909, and left in 1913 at the age of 13 to join the Naval Training school on board HMS Conway, but appears to have stayed only a month before going on to Durham School.

Shortly after turning 18, he joined the Royal Air Force as a cadet, and was demobilised on 16-Jan-1919 as an Honorary 2nd Lieutenant.

After the war he joined the Royal Field Artillery within the Territorial Army and in October, 1922, was made up to 2nd Lieutenant from Honorary 2nd Lieutenant.