b. 23/12/1852 Cambridge. d. 16/07/1907 Montreux, Switzerland.
Edward Stevenson Browne (1852-1907) was born at Park Terrace, St Andrew the Great, Cambridge on 23rd Dec 1852 and joined the 24th Regiment of Foot (later South Wales Borderers) in Sept 1871. He served in the Zulu War as a commander of Mounted Infantry.
On 29th March 1879, the Mounted Infantry were heavily involved in battle against the Zulus on Inhlobane Mountain. The Mounted Infantry were being driven back slowly, and at this point, Lieutenant Browne noticed that a fellow mounted infantryman was in some difficulty and under heavy fire from the enemy. Browne raced back on his own horse to assist the man, and stopped him falling into the enemy’s hands.
Browne was recommended for, and awarded the VC on 17th June 1879. He was presented with his medal by Lord Wolseley at Pine Tree Camp, Natal on 22nd August 1879. Following his VC award, Browne continued to serve in the South Wales Borderers and commanded the 2nd Battalion from 1893 to 1897. He went on to command the regimental district and reached the rank of Brigadier-General. He was also created Companion of Bath.
Browne died aged 54, at La Rouvenaz, Commune du Chatelard, Montreux, Switzerland on 16th July 1907. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Cimitiere de Clarens, Montreux, and in 1991, the grave was reused and the stone was disposed of. His medals are held by the South Wales Borderers Museum, Brecon, Wales.
Edward Browne's medals including VC and CB on display at the South Wales Borderers Museum, Brecon, Wales (May 2014).