Birth name Edward Douglas Brown Battles/wars Second Boer War Battles and wars Second Boer War Allegiance United Kingdom Name Edward Brown Service/branch British Army | Years of service 1883 - 1911 Role Armed force officer Rank Colonel Commands held 14th Hussars Awards Victoria Cross | |
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Buried at Golders Green Crematorium Died March 3, 1940, Marble Arch, London, United Kingdom | ||
Education United Services College | ||
Colonel Edward Douglas Browne-Synge-Hutchinson, (6 March 1861 – 3 March 1940) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
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Biography
He was born as Edward Douglas Brown in Kasauli, Dagshai, India. In 1904 he took the name (but was not able to inherit the title) of his maternal uncle, Sir Edward Synge-Hutchinson, to become Edward Douglas Browne-Synge-Hutchinson VC. He was also the nephew of Lieutenant General Coote Synge-Hutchinson. He achieved the rank of colonel and died in London.
Details
Brown was 39 years old, and a major in the 14th Hussars, British Army during the Second Boer War when the following deed took place on 13 October 1900 at Geluk, South Africa for which he was awarded the VC:
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 Hersey'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.
He was mentioned in despatches for his service during the war (29 November 1900 by Lord Roberts, Commander-in-Chief during the early part of the war; 8 April 1902 by Lord Kitchener C-i-C during the latter part of the war).
Brown left Cape Town for the United Kingdom in early May 1902, shortly before the end of the war, and received a brevet promotion to lieutenant-colonel in the South African Honours list published on 26 June 1902.
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the 14th/20th King's Hussars Museum, Preston, Lancashire, England.