Browning, Frederick Arthur Montague "Boy"

Date of birth:: October 20th, 1896 (Kensington/Greater London, United Kingdom)
Date of death:: March 14th, 1965 (Cornwall, United Kingdom)
Nationality:: British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Croix de Guerre (1914-1918)

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:: December 14th, 1917

Mentioned in Dispatches

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:: May 23rd, 1918

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant
Awarded on:: July 2nd, 1918

"For conspicuous gallantry 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."

Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Major-General
Unit:: Headquarters, 1st Airborne Division, British Army
Awarded on:: January 1st, 1943
Awarded for:: Operation Torch

Order Odrodzenia Polski Komandorski z Gwiazda

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Lieutenant General
Unit:: Headquarters, I Airborne Corps, British Army
Awarded on:: December 7th, 1944
Awarded for:: Operation Market Garden

Mentioned in Dispatches

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Lieutenant General
Unit:: Headquarters, I Airborne Corps, British Army
Awarded on:: March 22nd, 1945
Awarded for:: Operation Market Garden

In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe.

Legion of Merit - Commander (LoM - C)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant-general
Unit:: Headquarters, I Airborne Corps, British Army
Awarded on:: July 18th, 1945
Awarded for:: Operation Market Garden

In recognition of distinguished services in the cause of the Allies.

Knights/Dames Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (K/DBE)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant-general
Unit:: Headquarters, South East Asia Command (SEAC), Allied Forces
Awarded on:: January 1st, 1946

For his services with SEAC.

Knights/Dames Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (K/DBE)

Knight/Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (K(D)CVO)

Rank:: Lieutenant-general
Awarded on:: June 1st, 1953

Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)

Rank:: Lieutenant-general
Awarded on:: May 14th, 1959

1914 Star

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)

British War Medal 1914-1920

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)

Victory Medal 1914-1918

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)

1939-1945 Star

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Africa Star

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Burma Star

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

France and Germany Star

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Defence Medal 1939-1945

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

War Medal 1939-1945

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Parachutist Badge

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

War Diary mentions

17 September 1944 WO 171/845 - 13/18 Royal Hussars
Op "Market Garden" commenced with the dropping of 3 Airborne Divisions - the 1st British at ARNHEM - the 82nd U.S. at NIJMEGEN and GRAVE - and the 101st U.S. (later to come under 30 Corps) in area EINDHOVEN all under command of Lt.Gen Browning. The object of the Operation is to secure and hold the crossings over the MEUSE and RHINE and their subsidiary canals, in preparation for the advance by 2nd Army with 30 Corps as the spearhead, directed on the Dutch Coast North West of APPELDORN. 8 Corps secure the right flank by the capture of WEERT and HELMOND and 12th Corps the left flank by the capture of TURNHOUT and an advance to the MEUSE.

19 September 1944 WO 171/341 - 30 Corps
The bridge at ZON was completed during the night and at 0600 hrs the advance was resumed with 2 HCR leading. Progress was very rapid against negligible opposition and contact was made with 82 Airborne Div at GRAVE 6253 at about 0830 hrs. By 1400 hrs leading patrols had reached R WAAL and 5 Gds Armd Bde were concentrated in area 5 km South of NIJMEGEN and Comd 30 Corps had contacted Lt-Gen Browning, Comd Airborne Corps.

24 September 1944 WO 171/341 - 30 Corps
32 Gds Bde continued to operate in VEGHEL area. At 1700 hrs the main axis was again cut by enemy infantry and tanks between VEGHEL and ST OEDENRODE and all traffic ceased. The Corps Commander who was visiting the Army Commander was unable to rejoin Corps HQ and spent the night at Rear Corps HQ which was at ST OEDENRODE on its way North. Gen Browning commanding Airborne Corps assumed temporary command of 30 Corps.

Sources

Photo 1: IWM TR 174 (Public Domain)
- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30431/supplement/13207
- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30698/supplement/6061
- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30780/supplement/7885
- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36828/supplement/5616
- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36994/supplement/1548
- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38018/supplement/3319
- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39863/supplement/2946
- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41714/page/3319
- Legion of Merit
- Smart, N., Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War, Pen & Sword Books Limited, Barnsley, England, 2005
- Mead, R., Churchill’s Lions – A Biographical Guide to the Key British Generals of World War II, Spellmount Publishers Ltd., Chalford, England, 2007