Sam Browne

Browne was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions on 31 August 1858 at Seerporah, Rohilkhand, Uttar Pradesh, India. His citation reads:

For having at Seerporah, in an engagement with the Rebel Forces under Khan Allie Khan, on 31 August 1858, whilst advancing upon the Enemy's position, at day break, pushed on with one orderly Sowar upon a nine-pounder gun that was commanding one of the approaches to the enemy's position, and attacked the gunners, thereby preventing them from re-loading, and firing upon the Infantry, who were advancing to the attack. In doing this, a personal conflict ensued, in which Captain, now Lieutenant -Colonel, Samuel James Browne, Commandant of the 2nd Punjab Cavalry, received a severe sword-cut wound on the left knee, and shortly afterwards another sword-cut wound, which severed the left arm at the shoulder, not, however, before Lieutenant-Colonel Browne had succeeded in cutting down one of his assailants. The gun was prevented from being re-loaded, and was eventually captured by the Infantry, and the gunner slain.

— 

London Gazette^[2]

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Army Museum.^[3]

Sam Browne belt

Sometime after this incident he began to wear the accoutrement which now bears his name, as compensation for the difficulty his disability caused with wearing his officer's sword. A Sam Browne belt is a wide belt, usually leather, supported by a narrower strap passing diagonally over the right shoulder; the diagonal strap stabilizes the scabbard of a sword if worn. Later such a belt would be adopted by other officers who knew Browne in India, but it was not to become used commonly by the British Army until after his retirement.^[4] Browne's original "Sam Browne" belt is possessed presently by the National Army Museum in Chelsea.

Later career and retirement

After the Indian Mutiny, Browne remained in the Indian Army and was promoted major-general in February 1870.^[1] In 1876 he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI),^[5] and became a lieutenant-general on 1 October 1877.^[6]

During the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1878–9, Browne commanded the Peshawar Valley Field Force. After entering Afghanistan via the Khyber Pass, and defeating the Afghan army at the battle of Ali Masjid on 21 November 1878, he occupied Jalalabad on 20 December. However, further advance towards Kabul in the new year was slowed by transport difficulties. After the end of the first phase of the war in May 1879, Browne's force returned to India. Although criticised by the viceroy Lord Lytton for the slow pace of his advance,^[1] Browne was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB)^[7] and received the thanks of both Parliament and the government of India for his Afghan service. He retired from active service in 1884,^[8] was promoted general on 1 December 1888^[9] and made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in 1891.^[10]

In retirement Browne lived in

References

External links

• Media related to Sir Samuel James Browne at Wikimedia Commons