Francis David Millet Brown

Francis David Millet Brown VC (7 August 1837-21 November 1895) was an Irish 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.

Details

Brown was born on 7 August 1837 in Bhagalpur, India. He was educated at Grosvenor College, Bath. He was educated from 1852 - 1854 by a private tutor, Brisco Morland Gane, late curate of Honiton.He was 20 years old, and a lieutenant in the 1st European Bengal Fusiliers (later The Royal Munster Fusiliers) during the Indian Mutiny when, on 16 November 1857 at Narnoul, India, Lieutenant Brown, at the risk of his own life, rushed to the assistance of a wounded soldier, whom he carried off under heavy fire from the enemy, whose cavalry were within 40 or 50 yards of him at the time. He was again promoted, this time to Captain 23 August 1864. He returned to the army as Major on 7 December 1875. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 8 December 1881. He was Presented to Queen Victoria at a Levee at St James' Palace on 24 April 1860. He later achieved the rank of colonel.

Personal life

Between 1868 and 1873 Brown was employed as Assistant Principal of Thomason Civil Engineering College, Roorkee. He married Jessie Rhind Russel. Her date of birth is unknown. They had the following children:
*Frank Russell Brown (24 March 1872-3 April 1900. Frank was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Munster Fusiliers. He was made a Lieutenant 1 August 1895.
*Claude Russell Brown (born 11 April 1873}. Claude was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Engineers 22 July1892. He was made a Lieutenant 22 July 1895.Brown married Jessie Doris Childs after the death of his first wife. Brown died on 21 November 1895 in Sandown, Isle of Wight and was buried in Winchester Cemetery, after a service at Winchester Cathedral.

References

*Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

ee also

*List of Indian Mutiny Victoria Cross recipients

External links

* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/hampshir.htm Location of grave and VC medal] "(Hampshire)"