22588 Lt-Gen. Sir Frederick Arthur Montague BROWNING, GCVO, KBE, CB, DSO, MiD, Grenadier Guards

Personal Number: 22588
Rank: Lieutenant-General
Name: Sir Frederick Arthur Montague 'Boy' BROWNING, GCVO, KBE, CB, DSO, MiD
Unit: Grenadier Guards


London Gazette : 15 June 1915
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29193/page/5759/data.pdf
REGULAR FORCES.
The undermentioned Gentleman Cadets, from the Royal Military College, to be Second Lieutenants. Dated 16th June, 1915: —
FOOT GUARDS.
Grenadier Guards.
Frederick Arthur Montague Browning.

London Gazette : 17 December 1917
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30431/supplement/13207/data.pdf
The following are among the Decorations and Medals awarded by the Allied Powers at various dates to the British Forces for distinguished services rendered during the course of the campaign:—
His Majesty the King has given unrestricted permission in all cases to wear the Decorations and Medals in question.
Decorations and Medals presented by THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
Croix de Guerre.
Lieutenant Frederick Arthur Montague Browning, Grenadier Guards.

London Gazette : 4 February 1918
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30507/supplement/1600/data.pdf
Awarded the Distinguished Service Order.
Lt. Frederick Arthur Montague Browning, G. Gds.

London Gazette : 23 May 1918
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30698/supplement/6061/data.pdf
The following is a continuation of Sir D. Haig's Despatch of the 7th April submitting names deserving of special mention:—
INFANTRY.
GRENADIER GUARDS.
Browning, Lt. (A./Capt.) F. A. M., D.S.O.

London Gazette : 5 July 1918
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30780/supplement/7885/data.pdf
AW ARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER.
Lt. Frederick Arthur Montague Browning, G. Gda
For conspicuousgallantry and devotion to duty. He took command of three companies whose officers had all become casualties, reorganised them, and proceeded to consolidate. Exposing himself to very heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, in two hours he had placed the front line in a strong state of defence. The conduct of this officer, both in the assault and more especially afterwards,, was beyond all praise, and the successful handing over of the front to the relieving, unit as an entrenched and strongly fortified position was entirely due to his energy and skill.

London Gazette : 3 December 1920
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32151/supplement/12026/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS.
G. G'ds.—
The undermentioned Lts. to be Capts. 24tfo Nov. 1920:—
F. A. M. Browning, D.S.O., Adjt.

London Gazette : 18 May 1928
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33385/page/3505/data.pdf
ESTABLISHMENTS.
Capt. F. A. M. Browning, D.S.O., Gren. G'ds., relinquishes the appt. of Adjt., E. Mil. Coll. 24th Apr. 1928

London Gazette : 1 June 1928
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33389/page/3783/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS.
Gren. G'ds.—Capt.. F. A. M. Browning, D.S.O., is restd. to the estabt., 24th Apr. 1928, and to be Maj. 22nd May 1928.

London Gazette : 18 February 1936
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34256/page/1058/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS.
Gren. G'ds.—M.a,]. F. A. M. Browning, D.S.O., to be Lt.-Col. 1st Feb. 1936.

London Gazette : 1 August 1939
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34650/page/5313/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS.
Gren. G'ds.—
Lt.-Col. F. A. M. Browning, D.S.O., on completion of tenure of serv. in comd. is removed from the regtl. list and remains on full pay. 1st Aug. 1939.

London Gazette : 3 November 1939
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34725/page/7473/data.pdf
REGULAR ARMY.
The undermentioned to be Cols.:—
Lt.-Col. (temp. Brig.) F. A. M. Browning, D.S.O., from Unempld. List, late Gren. G'ds. 1st Sept. 1939, with seniority ist Feb. 1939-

London Gazette : 21 November 1941
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35352/supplement/6693/data.pdf
The undermentioned are granted the actg. rank of Maj.-Gen. : —
Col. (temp. Brig.) F. A. M. Browning, D.S.O. (22588). 3rd Nov. 1941.

London Gazette : 1 January 1943
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35841/page/3/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following promotions in the Most Honourable Order of the Bath:—
To be Additional Members of the Military Division of the Third Class, or Companions, of the said Most Honourable Order:—
Colonel (temporary Major-General) Frederick Arthur Montague Browning, D.S.O. (22588), late Grenadier Guards.

London Gazette : 7 January 1944
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36318/supplement/155/data.pdf
REGULAR ARMY .
Col. (temp. Maj.-Gen.) F. A. M. Browning, C.B., D.S.O. (22588), is granted the actg. rank of Lt.-Gen., 9th Dec. 1943.

London Gazette : 7 December 1944
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36828/supplement/5616/data.pdf
The KING has been pleased to grant unrestricted permission for the wearing of the following decorations which have been conferred on the undermentioned officers in recognition of distinguished services in the cause of the Allies:—
DECORATIONS CONFERRED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND.
Polonia Restituta, II Class.
Major-General (a/Lieutenant-General) Frederick Arthur Montague Browning, C.B., D.S.O. (22588), late Grenadier Guards.

London Gazette : 16 January 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36892/supplement/391/data.pdf
REGULAR ARMY.
Maj.-Gen. (actg. Lt.-Gen.) F. A. M. Browning, C.B., D.S.O. (22588), to be temp. Lt.-Gen., gth Dec. 1944.

London Gazette : 22 March 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36994/supplement/1548/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe:—
Commands and Staff.
Lt.-Gen. (actg.) F. A. M. Browning, C.B., D.S.O. (22588), late Gren. G'ds.

London Gazette : 1 January 1946
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37407/page/17/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire:—
To be Additional Knights Commanders of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order: —
Lieutenant-General (temporary) Frederick' Arthur Montague BROWNING; C.B., D.S.O. (22588), late Grenadier Guards.

London Gazette : 16 July 1946
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37652/supplement/3667/data.pdf
REGULAR ARMY.
The undermentioned Maj.-Gens. to be Lt.-Gens.: —
Maj.-Gen. (temp. Lt.-Ge"n.) Sir Frederick A. M. BROWNING, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O. (22588), 9th May 1946, with seniority 23rd Dec. 1944.

London Gazette : 18 July 1947
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38018/supplement/3319/data.pdf
The KING has been pleased to grant unrestricted permission for the wearing of the following decorations which have been conferred on the under- mentioned personnel in recognition of distinguished services in the cause of the Allies: —
DECORATIONS CONFERRED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Legion of Merit, degree of Commander.
Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Arthur Montague BROWNING, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O. (22588), late Grenadier Guards

London Gazette : 2 January 1948
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38167/page/83/data.pdf
Buckingham Palace, 2nd January, 1948.
The PRINCESS ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH, has been pleased to appoint Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Arthur Montague Browning, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., to be Comptroller of the Household to Her Royal Highness.
The appointment to date from the ist January, 1948.

London Gazette : 15 October 1948
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38431/page/5447/data.pdf
The KING has approved the following promotion, retirements and relinquishments: —
INDIAN ARMY.
Lt.-Gen. Sir Frederick A. M. BROWNING K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., Brit. Serv. relinquishes the appt. of Colonel of the Indian Parachute Regt, 1st Oct. 1948.

London Gazette : 1 June 1953
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39863/supplement/2946/data.pdf
The QUEEN has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of Her Majesty's Coronation, to make the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Royal Victorian Order: —
To be Knights Commanders:—
Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Arthur Montague BROWNING, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O.

London Gazette : 1 March 1960
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41970/page/1551/data.pdf
DEPUTY LIEUTENANT COMMISSIONS
Commissions Signed by The Lord Lieutenant o-f the County of Cornwall
Lieutenant-General ,Sir Frederick Arthur Montague Browning, KjC.VXX, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., of Menabilly, Par.

 

London Gazette : 20 March 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36994/supplement/1548/data.pdf

 

Recommendation for Award for Browning, Frederick Arthur Montague Rank: ... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 373/148/120
Name Browning, Frederick Arthur Montague
Rank: Lieutenant General
Regiment: British Army
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Foreign to British: USA
Award: Legion of Merit
Date of announcement in London Gazette: 18 July 1947

 

See also:

• Frederick Browning - Wikipedia
• Lieutenant-General Frederick Browning
  
• Frederick A M Browning | ParaData
  
• Biography of Lieutenant-General Frederick Arthur Montague Browning (1896 – 1965), Great Britain
  
• King's Collections : Archive Catalogues : ALANBROOKE, FM Alan Francis, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke of Brookeborough (1883-1963) : 6/2/56: Lt Gen Sir Frederick Arthur Montague Browning
  
• Boy Browning - National Portrait Gallery
  
• Boy Browning - National Portrait Gallery
  
• Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Browning, KBE, CB, SO
  
• Sir Frederick Arthur Montague Browning (1896-1965)...
• 

 

VIEWING PARATROOP TRAINING AT NETHERAVON, OCTOBER 1942 © I.W.M. TR172

 

I'd like to thank you (and your crystal ball?) for your post

I came away from Al Murray's "We Have Ways Fest" on Saturday (where an Arnhem-focussed Q&A session was tragically curtailed after a handful of questions*, because of a serious medical emergency in the audience ), with a number of questions in my mind.

Among them this:

"Was Boy Browning a suitably qualified and experienced person to be appointed as commander of a multinational airborne corps in battle?"
​

which came into my mind partly from questions asked by the audience, and from the sense that in the 55 years since I first read A Bridge Too Far at the age of 14, I've never read any book/ internet source that gives his professional and operational career record more than cursory attention, and I figured that The Gazette was as good a source as any, and better than most, to build his chronology.
You've saved me a good deal of effort
= = = = = =
* The particular questions centred on:

• Did weather conditions prevent 1st Airborne Division enjoying cab-rank Close Air Support in the crucial early stages of the battle?
  • A: Not half as much as did the 1st AB Div's total lack of both an organic Forward Air Control capability, and prior operational experience of cooperating with CAS.
• How did Monty and Browning get away with their shameful treatment of Sosabowski?
  • A: Politics, politics, politics.
• Could not / should not Browning have interceded to have aerial resupply containers full of red berets replaced by more valuable combat supplies?
  • Not conclusively answered, but it was alleged that Browning himself had instructed that beret resupply should be made an SOP, when he learned that after an engagement in N Africa, several soldiers sold their berets as souvenirs, and were therefore improperly dressed come the day of their victory parade (a tale which would fit with Boy's roots in the Gren Gds, but carries with it nevertheless a whiff of soldierly myth / urban legend)

 

Hello The_Stonker.

Given your questions and observations you might find the post here (link below) and the attached pdf there of interest.

And possibly the whole thread too should you not have gone through it before.

Here's the link.

A Bridge Too Far.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Many thanks for this