Name
Alfred Eden Browne (DSO)
30 Nov 1878
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/08/1918
39
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant Colonel
Royal Field Artillery
186th Brigade
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Distinguished Service Order
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DAINVILLE BRITISH CEMETERY
II. C. 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
SON OF 5TH MARQUESS OF SLIGO
UK & Other Memorials
Christ Church Memorial, Little Heath, Potters Bar, Little Heath & Bentley Heath Memorial, Potters Bar, All Souls Chapel Book of Remembrance, Potters Bar, St James' Piccadilly WW1St James, Greater London
Pre War
Lord Alfred Eden Browne was born in Darjeeling, India on 30 Nov 1879. He was the son of Henry Ulick Browne, 5th Marquess of Sligo and Catherine (nee Dicken). On 1891 Census Alfred was a boarder at Littleanger School, London Colney. He attended Marlborough College. Alfred was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on 26 Feb 1898. Promoted to Lieutenant on 16 Feb 1901 and to Captain on 28 Oct 1905.
Alfred married Cicely Wormald on 2 Apr 1908 at St George’s Hanover Square, London. He resigned his commission on 4 Apr 1908.
On the 1911 Census Alfred and Cicely together with son Denis (born 1909), daughter Sheelah, (born 1908) and Noreen (1910) were living with his parents in law, Edward & Annette Wormald at Marine Parade, Brighton, Sussex. The family later lived at Sheepwell House, Potters Bar.
Wartime Service
Alfred was recalled from reserve on the outbreak of the Great War and landed in France on 12 Sep 1914.
He was Mentioned in Dispatches by Field-Marshall French on 14 Jan 1915. Promoted to Major during 1915. Given command of 186th Brigade on 12 Dec 1917. His DSO citation reads Major (Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) Lord Alfred Eden Browne, Reserve of Officers, Royal Field Artillery: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During successive withdrawals under orders, this officer displayed great skill in artillery rear guard actions, remaining in action until the last moment, running it very fine on three occasions, and then withdrawing by batteries or sections at a time. He was always cool, and showed great power in keeping in touch with both the infantry and the C.R.A (Commander Royal Artillery) of the Division.’ This was announced in the London Gazette two weeks after his death, and refers to events which took place in Mar 1918. During the German Spring Offensive.
He was killed in action on 27 Aug 1918 during the Battle of the Scarpe (26 – 30 Aug 1918), a part of the Second Battle of Arras. Alfred was Posthumously Mentioned in Dispatches by Field-Marshall Sir Douglas Haig on 23 Dec 1918.
Additional Information
Arrears of £442 6s 3d was paid to Cox & Co his executors.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Martin Cope
