Francis David Millet Brown VC

b. 07/08/1837 Bhagalpur, India. d. 21/11/1895 Sandown, Isle Of Wight.

Francis David Millet Brown (1837-1895) was born in Bhagalpur, India on 7th August 1837, and was sent to England to be educated at Wellington College. He enlisted with the 1st European Bengal Fusiliers in December 1855. He was promoted to Lieutenant during the Indian Mutiny.

Francis D M Brown VC

On 16th November 1857, he saw a soldier of his regiment lying wounded in the open during the action at Narnoul, near Delhi. At a high risk to his own life, he rushed out under heavy fire, and carried the man off the field. He did this despite the fact the enemy were just 40 or 50 yards away from him. His citation was published on 17th February 1860, and his medal was presented to him in December 1860 in Mooltan by the Commander in Chief for India, Sir Hugh Rose.

He remained in India, and in 1864, he joined the Bengal Staff Corps. His subsequent career was unexceptional as he climbed the promotion ladder to reach Colonel before his Army service ended. He returned to England and retired to the Isle of Wight. He died on 21st November 1895 aged 58 in Sandown, Isle of Wight. He was buried in Westhill Cemetery, Winchester, Hampshire. He left a wife and three sons. Sadly, two of his sons would be killed in action, one in the Boer War in South Africa in 1900, and the other was killed at Gallipoli in 1915. Brown’s medals are held by his old school, Wellington College in Berkshire.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: WELLINGTON COLLEGE, CROWTHORNE, HAMPSHIRE.

BURIAL PLACE: WEST HILL CEMETERY, WINCHESTER, HAMPSHIRE.

Acknowledgements:

Kevin Brazier – Brown’s grave and cemetery plan images.

Wellington College – images of his Victoria Cross medal.