Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War D.F.C. group of five awarded to Captain R. F. Browne, Royal Air Force, late Canadian Army Service Corps and Royal Flying Corps

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2404 Cpl. R. F. Browne, Can. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. R. F. Browne, R.A.F.); Belgium, Order of Leopold I, 5th Class breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, generally very fine (5) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Canadian Expeditonary Force 1914-1918.

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D.F.C. London Gazette 1 January 1919. The original recommendation states:

‘This officer has served with this squadron since 27 January 1918. Both as a pilot and Flight Commander, he has done extremely good work, and has always shown the utmost keenness in volunteering for any task which involved exceptional risks. Previous to being posted to this squadron, Captain Browne has served with the Expeditionary Force as Observer for two periods in No. 3 Squadron as follows: 20 March 1916 to 1 January 1917, and 18 April to 12 July 1917. The experience gained by this officer during his previous service with the Expeditionary Force has been put to valuable account during his period of duty in this squadron. He has always set a fine example of keenness and hard work to the other officers of the Squadron.’

Reginald Frederick Browne, who was born in Low Moor, Yorkshire, in June 1888, enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in December 1914 and was posted to the Canadian Army Service Corps. Attached to the 2nd Canadian Divisional Supply Column, he went out to France in September 1915, but later transferred to 2nd Division’s H.Q. Staff, where he served as personal chauffeur to Major-General R. E. W. Turner, V.C. - in which role he forfeited a month’s pay for arguing with a Military Policeman and blocking traffic.

Transferring to the Royal Flying Corps, he qualified as an Observer and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, and was posted to No. 3 Squadron in France in the Spring of 1916, remaining actively employed until January 1917, and again in the period April to July 1917. Transferring as a pilot to No. 13 Squadron in January 1918, he went on to win the D.F.C. and a mention in despatches (London Gazette 1 January 1919 refers), prior to being rested from operations that October after being wounded in a patrol in R.E. 8 E233 during the second battle of Le Cateau on the 8th.

Browne was also awarded the 5th Class of the of Belgian Order of Leopold in respect of his numerous contact patrols during the battle of Arras, during which, despite adverse weather conditions and heavy ground fire, he always brought back accurate reports (the recommendation refers).

Sold with copied service record.