BROWNE-SYNGE-HUTCHINSON EDWARD DOUGLAS,
Major, was born 6 March, 1861, son of Major David Philip Browne, 7th
(Queen's Own) Hussars, and Frances Dorothy (daughter of Francis Synge-Hutchinson,
and his wife, Lady Louisa Hely-Hutchinson, and sister of Sir Edward
Synge-Hutchinson,4th Baronet, of Castle Sailagh, County Wicklow). He was
educated at Edinburgh Academy, Windennere College, and at the United
Services College, Westward Ho! and entered the Army, receiving a commission
as Lieutenant in the, 18th Hussars 7 November 1883, and became Captain in
less than five years, 8 August 1888. On the 27th March, 1889, he exchanged
into the 14th Hussars. From the 1st January 1890, to the 31st December
1894, he was Commandant of the Aldershot School of Instruction for
Yeomanry. He became Major 28 January 1899. Major Browne served in South
Africa from 1899 to 1902, and at the action of Geluk he won the Victoria
Cross for saving the lives of three men, one after the other. He says his
age at that time was 37 years 8 months, which was then, he believes, about
the limit of antiquity for this decoration. His Victoria Cross was gazetted
15 January 1901: "Edward Douglas Brown, Major, 14th Hussars. Date of Act of
Bravery: 13 October 1900. On the 13th October 1900, at Geluk, when the
enemy were within 400 yards, and bringing a heavy fire to bear, Major Brown,
seeing that Sergeant Kersey's horse was shot, stopped behind the, last
squadron, as it was retiring, and helped Sergeant Hersey to mount behind
him, carrying him for about three quarters of a mile to a place of safety.
He did this under a heavy fire. Major Brown afterwards enabled Lieutenant
Browne, 14th Hussars, to mount, by holding his horse, which was very restive
under the heavy fire. Lieutenant Browne could not otherwise have mounted.
Subsequently Major Brown carried Lance Corporal Trumpeter Leigh out of
action". It was not mentioned in the official account that the horses of
three other men were held by Major Browne, as they were in difficulties with
them, and one of the animals, having run away, had to be caught and brought
back. Major Browne was the last officer of the British Regular Army to win
the Victoria Cross in the life-time of Queen Victoria, as she died on the
22nd January 1901 (Lieutenant Doxat, of the Imperial Yeomanry, won his
Victoria Cross on 20 October 1900). He was decorated by Duke of Cornwall
and York at Pietermaritzburg, Natal, on the 14th August 1901. He was
mentioned in Despatches: (1) In the London Gazette of 1 December 1901, by
Sir John French, KCB (2) By Lord Roberts and by Lord Kitchener. He was
mentioned regimentally during the Boer War: (1) For service during the
retirement at Thaba N'chu. (2) For leading to the most advanced position at
the Battle of Diamond Hill under heavy fire. (3) For saving life at the
Second Action of Geluk 13 October 1900. (4) For General Distinguished
Service during the war. (5) Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel 17 June, 1902
(ante-dated to 29 November 1900). He received the Queen's South African
Medal with seven clasps, and the King's South African Medal with two
clasps. He commanded the 14th Hussars for seven and a half months during
the Boer War. In 1906 he was given the Brevet of Colonel, and in 1911 he
became Substantive Colonel. In the same year he was made a Knight of Grace
of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in England and a Member of the Central
Executive Committee of the St John's Ambulance Association 1911 to 1919. He
was also made a Freeman and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle
Makers of the City of London, and Freeman of the City of London, 1911. He
was created a CB in 1911. On 30 March, 1917, Colonel Browne-Synge-Hutchinson
was promoted to be Knight of Justice of the Order of St John of Jerusalem.
