# Sam Browne

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{{Short description|British Indian Army soldier (1824-1901)}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix   = 
| name               = Sir Samuel Browne
| honorific_suffix   = 
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| image              = SamBrowneLarge.jpeg
| image_size         = 
| alt                = 
| caption            = General Browne in 1897
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1824|10|03|df=yes}}
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|1901|03|14|1824|10|03|df=yes}}
| birth_place        = [Barrackpore](/source/Barrackpore), [British India](/source/British_India)
| death_place        = [Ryde](/source/Ryde), Isle of Wight
| burial_place       = Town Cemetery, Ryde
| burial_label       = 
| burial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} -->
| nickname           = 
| birth_name         = 
| allegiance         = {{flag|United Kingdom|23px}}
| branch             = [Bengal Army](/source/Bengal_Army)<br>[British Indian Army](/source/British_Indian_Army)
| service_years      = 1840&ndash;1884
| rank               = [General](/source/General_(United_Kingdom))
| service_number     = 
| unit               = 
| commands           = 
| battles            = [Second Anglo-Sikh War](/source/Second_Anglo-Sikh_War)<br>[Indian Mutiny](/source/Indian_Mutiny)<br>[Second Anglo-Afghan War](/source/Second_Anglo-Afghan_War)
| battles_label      = 
| awards             = [Victoria Cross](/source/Victoria_Cross)<br>[Order of the Bath](/source/Order_of_the_Bath)<br>[Order of the Star of India](/source/Order_of_the_Star_of_India)
| relations          = 
| other_work         = Inventor of the [Sam Browne belt](/source/Sam_Browne_belt)
| signature          = 
| website            = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}
[General](/source/General_(United_Kingdom)) '''Sir Samuel James Browne''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|sep=,|VC|GCB|KCSI}} (3 October 1824 – 14 March 1901) was a [British Indian Army](/source/British_Indian_Army) [cavalry](/source/cavalry) officer, known best as the creator of the [Sam Browne belt](/source/Sam_Browne_belt). He was a recipient of the [Victoria Cross](/source/Victoria_Cross), the most prestigious award for gallantry in combat that can be awarded to British and [Commonwealth](/source/Commonwealth_of_Nations) forces.

== Early life ==
He was born in [Barrackpore](/source/Barrackpore), India, the son of Dr. John Browne, a surgeon of the [Bengal](/source/Bengal) Medical Service and his wife Charlotte (née Swinton). Educated in England, Browne returned to India in 1840 and joined the 46th [Bengal Native Infantry](/source/Bengal_Native_Infantry) as an [ensign](/source/Ensign_(rank)). During the [Second Anglo-Sikh War](/source/Second_Anglo-Sikh_War), he participated in actions at [Ramnuggar](/source/Battle_of_Ramnagar), [Sadulpur](/source/Sadulpur), [Chillianwalla](/source/Battle_of_Chillianwala) and [Gujrat](/source/Battle_of_Gujrat). In 1849 he was made a lieutenant and tasked with raising a cavalry force, to be designated the 2nd [Punjab](/source/Punjab_region) [Irregular](/source/irregular_military) Cavalry and later incorporated into the regular force. From 1851 to 1863 he was adjutant and then commanding officer of this unit.<ref name=odnb>{{cite ODNB|url=https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/32124 |title=Browne, Sir Samuel James|last=Lunt |first=James|year=2011 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/32124|access-date=26 September 2021|isbn=978-0198614111}}</ref> Later (1904) the unit would be re-designated as the [22nd Sam Browne's Cavalry](/source/22nd_Sam_Browne's_Cavalry) (Frontier Force) in his honour.

== Indian Mutiny ==
Browne commanded the 2nd Punjab in several engagements, and was decorated for action during the Bozdar Expedition of 1857, being promoted to captain.

Browne was awarded the [Victoria Cross](/source/Victoria_Cross) for actions on 31 August 1858 at Seerporah, [Rohilkhand](/source/Rohilkhand), Uttar Pradesh, India. His citation reads:
{{cquote|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.|20px|20px|[London Gazette](/source/London_Gazette)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=22485|page=1007|date=1 March 1861}}</ref>}}

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the [National Army Museum](/source/National_Army_Museum).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1999-09-55-1 |website=National Army Museum| title=Victoria Cross medal group awarded to General Sir Sam Browne |access-date=26 September 2021}}</ref>

== Sam Browne belt ==

{{Main|Sam Browne belt}}
[[File:Sam Browne Vanity Fair 1887-02-05.jpg|thumb|"Sir Sam"; caricature by ["Ape"](/source/Carlo_Pellegrini_(caricaturist)), published in [''Vanity Fair''](/source/Vanity_Fair_(British_magazine)), 5 February 1887]]
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](/source/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](/source/British_Army) until after his retirement.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://leatherpedia.org/Sam%20Browne%20belt |website=The Leather Encyclopedia| title=Sam Browne Belt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318162523/http://leatherpedia.org/Sam%20Browne%20belt|access-date=26 September 2021|archive-date=18 March 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref name=odnb/> In 1876 he was made a Knight Commander of the [Order of the Star of India](/source/Order_of_the_Star_of_India) (KCSI),<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=24303|page=1787|date=7 March 1876}}</ref> and became a lieutenant-general on 1 October 1877.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=24508|page=5458|date=2 October 1877}}</ref>

During the [Second Anglo-Afghan War](/source/Second_Anglo-Afghan_War) in 1878–9, Browne commanded the [Peshawar Valley Field Force](/source/Peshawar_Valley_Field_Force). After entering Afghanistan via the [Khyber Pass](/source/Khyber_Pass), and defeating the Afghan army at the [battle of Ali Masjid](/source/battle_of_Ali_Masjid) on 21 November 1878, he occupied [Jalalabad](/source/Jalalabad) on 20 December. However, further advance towards [Kabul](/source/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](/source/Governor-General_of_India) [Lord Lytton](/source/Robert_Bulwer-Lytton%2C_1st_Earl_of_Lytton) for the slow pace of his advance,<ref name=odnb/> Browne was made a Knight Commander of the [Order of the Bath](/source/Order_of_the_Bath) (KCB)<ref>[https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/9022/page/793 "No. 9022"] [The Edinburgh Gazette](/source/The_Edinburgh_Gazette). 1 August 1879. p. 793.</ref> and received the thanks of both Parliament and the government of India for his Afghan service. He retired from active service in 1884,<ref>Browne moved to Unemployed Supernumerary List: {{London Gazette|issue=25397|page=4169|date=19 September 1884}}</ref> was promoted general on 1 December 1888<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=25884|page=7203|date=18 December 1888}}</ref> and made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in 1891.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=26167|page=2921|date=30 May 1891}}</ref>

In retirement Browne lived in [Ryde](/source/Ryde) on the [Isle of Wight](/source/Isle_of_Wight), England, and died there in 1901 at the age of 76. His remains were cremated but there is a memorial marker dedicated to Browne in the Ryde New Cemetery,<ref name=grave>{{cite web | title=Grave Search Sir Samuel James Browne General|last1=Ryde Social Heritage Group |url=http://rshg.org.uk/graves/sir-samuel-james-browne/ |publisher=Ryde Social Heritage Group |accessdate=26 August 2018 |ref=rshg}}</ref> as well as plaques at [St Paul's Cathedral](/source/St_Paul's_Cathedral) in London and [Lahore Cathedral](/source/Cathedral_Church_of_the_Resurrection%2C_Lahore) in Pakistan. His grave was restored in 2010.

== Family==

Browne married Lucy Sherwood, daughter of Richard Crosier Sherwood. She survived her husband, and died on 27 July 1911.<ref name=grave /> There were several children, including:<ref name=grave />
*Brigadier-General Sherwood Dighton Browne, {{postnominals|country=GBR|sep=,|CB|CBE}} (25 May 1862 – 3 September 1947), an officer in the [Royal Artillery](/source/Royal_Artillery); who married at [St. Peter's church, Cranley gardens](/source/Church_of_St_Yeghiche%2C_South_Kensington), London, on 4 April 1900 Louisa Wilson, daughter of H. C. Wilson, of [Prestwich](/source/Prestwich).<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Marriages|date=7 April 1900 | page=1 |issue=36110}}</ref>
*Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred Percy Browne, {{postnominals|country=GBR|sep=,|DSO}} (15 January 1868 – 16 October 1930), an officer in the Central India Horse; who married Winifred Marie (3 February 1899 – 5 august 1970)
*Violet Adriana Browne (d. London 17 March 1946)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Browne, Sam}}
Category:1824 births
Category:1901 deaths
Category:19th-century British inventors
Category:People from Alnwick
Category:Military personnel from Northumberland
Category:British amputees
Category:British Indian Army generals
Category:Indian Rebellion of 1857 recipients of the Victoria Cross
Category:British East India Company Army officers
Category:British military personnel of the Second Anglo-Afghan War
Category:British military personnel of the Second Anglo-Sikh War
Category:British recipients of the Victoria Cross
Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India
Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Category:20th-century British military personnel
Category:Burials in the Isle of Wight

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sam Browne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Browne) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Browne?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.