Bernard Score Browne was the second son of Colonel Abraham Walker Browne. Bernard was born about 1884. His father was the principal medical officer of the North Irish Coast Defences. Bernard was educated at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen. He then moved on to Edinburgh University, where he qualified M.B., Ch.B. in 1908. Shortly afterwards he took up medical missionary work in China. Bernard Browne returned home as soon as he could and took a temporary commission as lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps on 2nd April 1915.Bernard then became the medical officer of the 2nd Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment in France. Bernard Browne was promoted to captain after a year's service. Bernard was awarded the Military Cross. He was mentioned in dispatches by Lord French. Captain Browne was subsequently stationed at Salonika in Greece where he was killed in action 15th April 1918. He was 32 years old.
Further Information
Bernard Score Browne was the second son of Abraham Walker Browne and Helen Browne. Abraham Walker Browne and Helen T Smyth were married on 23rd April 1878 at Honeybourne, Worcestershire.
Bernard Browne was born on 27th May 1885 in Derry.
Known family: Abraham Walker Browne, Helen T Browne, Bernard Score Browne (born 27th May 1885, Derry)
Colonel Abraham Walker Browne was the principal medical officer of the North Irish Coast Defences. The colonel is listed as living at St. Kilda, Clooney, Londonderry
Bernard S Browne was a nephew of Major General E G Browne C.B., C.M.G., of Colonel William Browne J.P., Northland Row, Dungannon, and of Major James Browne, late Devonshire Regiment.
Bernard was educated at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen. He is not listed on their War Memorial.
He then moved on to Edinburgh University, where he qualified M.B., Ch.B. in 1908.
Shortly afterwards he took up medical missionary work in China. At the outbreak of war, he was at the Church Missionary Society Hospital at Ningpo. He was decorated by the Chinese government in recognition of his services.
Bernard Browne returned home as soon as he could and took a temporary commission as lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps on 2nd April 1915.
Bernard then became the medical officer of the 2nd Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment in France.
Lieutenant Bernard Browne arrived in France on 23rd April 1915.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 7th August 1915: Dungannon Officer’s Pluck (uncle of Bernard Browne)
Colonel Edward George Browne, who is attached to the Headquarters Medical Service Staff at present operating in France, has been mentioned in despatches for courageous conduct during the recent severe attacks. He had been in India for several years and had just been granted three months sick leave when war broke out, and on landing at Portsmouth, was immediately sent by the War Office to the front. In attending the wounded soldiers in a shell swept zone he was gassed, but pluckily continued in his meritorious work. Colonel Browne, who was born at Killymaddy House, Dungannon, is a brother of Colonel William Browne, J.P., Northland Row, Dungannon; Dr T D Browne, Benburb; and Dr T J Browne, Dublin, Local Government Board Medical Inspector and is well known in the district.
Bernard Browne was promoted to captain after a year's service.
Bernard was awarded the Military Cross “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Vermelles in October 1915. He spent the whole night of 2nd-3rd October searching for and carrying back wounded who were lying between our own and the enemy's lines, which were only 200 yards apart. The enemy were firing, and the ground was lit up by flares. After daybreak he carried back three more men under a very heavy fire. At one time he tended the wounded within fifteen yards of the enemy's trenches. By his courage and ceaseless work all the wounded in his area were brought in.”
From the Tyrone Courier dated 11th November 1915: Military Cross for Lieutenant Browne, M.B.
One of the officers on whom the King has conferred the Military Cross for gallantry and devotion to duty in the field is Temporary Lieutenant Bernard Score Browne, M.B., Royal Army Medical Corps, attached to the 2nd Cheshire Regiment, a member of the Browne family of Killymaddy, Dungannon. He is the second son of Colonel Abraham W Browne, St Kilda, P.M.O. of the North Irish Coast Defences, and is a nephew of Colonel William Browne, J.P., Dungannon; Dr T J Browne, Dublin; Dr T D Browne, Benburb; and Colonel Edward Browne, Deputy Director General of Medical Services in France. Lieutenant Browne, who is 23 years of age, had been for three years a medical missionary in China, and on the outbreak of the war he obtained a commission in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and has been in France with the 2nd Cheshires since the beginning of the year.
He was mentioned in dispatches by Lord French.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 6th January 1916:
Temporary Lieutenant Bernard Score Browne, M.B., Royal Army Medical Corps (attached to the 2nd Cheshires), is the second son of Colonel Abraham W Browne, Dungannon and Derry. He had been a successful medical missionary in China, and volunteered at the outbreak of the war. He has recently been the recipient of the Military Cross for succouring the wounded under the most trying and dangerous conditions.
Captain Browne was subsequently stationed at Salonika in Greece.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 1st March 1918: Army Medical Service Edward Browne (uncle of Bernard Brown)
Colonel Edward George Brown, O.B. (Dungannon), to be temporary surgeon general, 21st February 1918.
Captain Bernard Score Browne, M.C. M.B, R.A.M.C., was killed in action 15th April 1918. He was 32 years old
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 25th April 1918:
Captain Bernard Score Browne, M.C., M.B., R.A.M.C., who has been killed in action, was a son of Brevet Colonel A W Browne, Military Hospital, Ebrington Barracks, Londonderry, and a member of a well-known County Tyrone family. He was a nephew of Major General E G Browne, C.B., C.M.G., of Colonel William Browne, J.P., Northland House, Dungannon, and of Mr James Browne, late Devonshire Regiment. Captain Browne was formerly a medical missionary in China, and was decorated by the Chinese government in recognition of his services. He obtained a commission in the R.A.M.C. on the opening of the present war, and served in France with the 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiment, being awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Vermelles in October 1915. He was mentioned in despatches by Lord French. Captain Browne was subsequently stationed at Salonika.
Captain Browne has no known grave and is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial in Greece.
Captain Bernard Score Browne, M.C., is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial.
The CWGC record Captain Bernard Score Browne as M.B. (Medical Board). He is listed as the son of Colonel A. Walker Browne (late R.A.M.C.) and Mrs. Browne, of ‘Cooleen’ St Kevin's Park, Dublin.
