Major Edward Douglas Brown 14th Hussars 13th October 1900 |
On October 13, 1900, at Geluk, where Private Heaton gained the Victoria Cross so gallantly in the previous August, the enemy got within 400 yards of our men, opening a heavy fire on them. Sergeant Hersey's horse had been shot, leaving him in imminent danger of sharing the same fate, which he would almost certainly have done but for Major Brown, who, waiting till the last squadron had retired, rode back, and, assisting him to mount behind, brought him safely out of range of the Boers. Shortly afterwards this brave officer also saved the life of Lieutenant J. G. Browne, by holding his horse when it had become almost unmanageable owing to the heavy fire concentrated on it and its rider, and, but for Major Brown's assistance, it could not have been mounted. Subsequently, Lance-Corporal Trumpeter Leigh owed his life to the conspicuous daring of this officer, who carried him out of action, thus making the third he had saved that day. Major (now Colonel) Brown, son of the late Major David Philip Brown, 7th Hussars, was Born on March 6, 1861. Was educated at Edinburgh Academy, Windermere College, United Service College, and Westward Ho ! He received his first commission as Lieutenant in the 18th Hussars, November, 1883, in which he became Captain in less than five years—August 8, 1888—and in his present regiment March, 1889. From January 1890, to December 31, 1894, was Commandant of the Aldershot School of Instruction for Yeomanry, attaining the rank of Major and Brevet-Lieut.-Colonel on January 28, 1899. Mentioned three times in despatches during the Boer War, and has seven clasps to his medal for South Africa. |