Orders, Decorations & Medals - British Groups

Lot 4460    Session 14 (4.30pm)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - British Groups

Estimate $5,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $8,200

FAMILY GROUP: Browne family: (1) Pair: Waterloo Medal 1815; Army of India Medal 1851, - clasp - Bhurtpoor, with ribbon buckle bar. Cornet B.P.Brown (sic), 11th Reg. Light Dragoons on first medal, Captn. B.F. (sic) Browne, 11th Lt.Drags. on second medal. Both medals impressed. In fitted dual medal case, the first with many contact marks and fine, the second extremely fine. (2) Indian Mutiny Medal 1858, no clasp. Capt. C.F.Browne 35th Regt. Impressed. Very fine. (3) Jubilee Medal 1887 in silver. Unnamed. Extremely fine. (4) New Zealand Returned Soldiers Assn badge impressed 17876 on obverse and with unnumbered miniature; also dog tags, one marked 'NZCC/17876/H.G.Barton-Browne', the other marked 'NZEF/Cyclist/17876 H.G.Barton-Browne'. Very fine.

In a thrilling and descriptive account of the Battle of Waterloo as written in the United Service Gazette it states, 'Thus terminated one of the grandest scenes which distinguished the mighty drama enacted on the ever-memorable plains of Waterloo; a scene presenting, in bold relief, genuine British valour crowned with resplendent triumph.' The article continues in this vein to give a very emotive and descriptive account of the battle. At the end of the article is a list of officers of the British Army who were present in the actions on the 16th, 17th and 18th of June, 1815, including those posted near Hal on the 18th. Under the 11th Light Dragoons is recorded the name, Cornet B.P.Browne.

Capt Barton P.Browne, 11th L.Dragoons was a volunteer in the storming column, Bhurtpoor.

Promotions - Fort William - May 13th 1824 - Lieut B.P.Brown to be Capt of a troop without purchase, vice W.Smith, deceased, 5 May 1824.

Register - Calcutta - HQs 2nd Feb1831 - Depot at Landour - The following officers to do duty at depot: Capt B.P.Browne H.M. 11th Drags.

Register at Madras - 22nd Feb 1836 - duty at Convalescent Depot at Landour: Capt B.P.Browne H.M. 11th Drags.

War Office 10th May 1839 - 6th Regt of Drag Gds - Capt B.P.Browne exchanges posting to unit.

28th June 1838 - Capt B.P.Browne to be Major.

11 Nov 1851 - Brevet-Major B.P.Browne of 49th Foot to be Lieutenant Colonel (confirmed in LG 26/1/1855, p307).

In The New York Times, June 29, 1885 from the London Times, June 18 under the heading 'Surviving Waterloo Officers' states, 'The names of the Waterloo officers known to be still living can almost be reckoned on the fingers of one hand.' One of the seven listed is Lieut Col B.P.Browne, Cornet in Eleventh Light Dragoons.

Capt Charles Frederick Browne, 35th Foot (Royal Sussex) confirmed on Indian Mutiny Medal roll without clasp. He is mentioned several times in the book, An Historical Memoir of the 35th Royal Sussex Regiment of Foot, compiled by Richard Trimen, late Captain 35th Foot. In one section is written the following:- 'On the 17th the column moved to Boehea, at the northern end of the Jugdespore Jungle. Shortly after halting, a heavy fire being opened by the enemy (who filled the woods) on the advanced videttes of cavalry, Captain Browne's company of the Regiment was ordered out to support them, on which the enemy withdrew out of range very rapidly. The company remained with the cavalry during the night, exposed to continual fire, but without having a man hit. On it getting light enough to aim, they again drove the enemy quickly out of their cover, and were moved forward in skirmishing order into the jungle, driving the enemy before them, until relieved by Captain Blyth's (light) company.'

While he was posted to India, Louisa Gilbert, the infant daughter and only child at the time of Capt C.F.Browne and his wife Frances Isabella died at Ootaoamund on 22 August 1854 and is buried in a Nilgiri District cemetery. (Ref: List of European Tombs in the Cemeteries Attached to the Various Churches in the Nilgiri District, printed Madras 1905).

Humphrey Gilbert Barton-Browne, butcher, next of kin, Mrs M.A.Barton-Browne of Hillside, Dunedin, NZ; Enl as Driver with 16th Reinforcements, Army Service Corps; Emb.19Aug1916 from Wellington as a member of the Cyclist Corps with NZ Expeditionary Force; his brother, Walter Raleigh Barton-Browne was killed in WWI.

With research including copy of the article 'The Battle of Waterloo' from the United Service Gazette, printed and published by Charles Kemp and John Fairfax at the Sydney Morning Herald Printing Office, Sydney, NSW, Nov 20, 1844.