Difference between revisions of "Montague Edward Browning"

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Browning then hoisted his flag in the [[H.M.S. Hibernia (1905)|''Hibernia'']] as Rear-Admiral in the [[Third Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Third Battle Squadron]] of the [[Grand Fleet]].  In July, 1915 he was appointed to the command of the Third Cruiser Squadron, with his flag in the Antrim, which with the Third Battle Squadron had been stationed at Rosyth since the war began. In April, 1916 both squadrons were detached from the Grand Fleet and moved to the Swin (Thames estuary), then returned north after the battle of Jutland.  In the King's Birthday Honours of 3 June, 1916, he was appointed a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.).<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29608/supplements/5553 (Supplement) no. 29608.  p. 5553.]  2 June, 1916.</ref>
 
Browning then hoisted his flag in the [[H.M.S. Hibernia (1905)|''Hibernia'']] as Rear-Admiral in the [[Third Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Third Battle Squadron]] of the [[Grand Fleet]].  In July, 1915 he was appointed to the command of the Third Cruiser Squadron, with his flag in the Antrim, which with the Third Battle Squadron had been stationed at Rosyth since the war began. In April, 1916 both squadrons were detached from the Grand Fleet and moved to the Swin (Thames estuary), then returned north after the battle of Jutland.  In the King's Birthday Honours of 3 June, 1916, he was appointed a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.).<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29608/supplements/5553 (Supplement) no. 29608.  p. 5553.]  2 June, 1916.</ref>
  
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In August, 1916 Browning was appointed Commander-in-Chief on the [[North America and West Indies Station]] with the acting rank of {{ViceRN}}, and he assumed command with his flag in the ''Leviathan'' on 13 September.<ref>''Supplement to the Monthly Navy List'' (September, 1917).  p. 7.</ref>  In that capacity he represented his country in discussions with the United States naval authorities on joint action in the conduct of the war at sea. He was confirmed in the rank of Vice-Admiral on 26 April, 1917,<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30037/pages/3955 no. 30037.  p. 3955.]  27 April, 1917.</ref> and in February, 1918 returned to the Grand Fleet to take command of the [[Fourth Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Fourth Battle Squadron]] with his flag in the [[H.M.S. Hercules (1910)|''Hercules'']].  After the armistice of November, 1918 he was appointed president of the allied naval armistice commission, and paid visits in the ''Hercules'' to the German naval ports to see that the settled terms were duly carried out.  The economist J. M. Keynes alleged that Browning had "no idea in his head but the extirpation and further humiliation of a despised and defeated enemy."<ref>Keynes.  ''Two Memoirs''.  p. 13</ref>  Browning joined the Board of Admiralty as [[Second Sea Lord]] in March, 1919 and was promoted to the rank of {{AdmRN}} on 1 November.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31632/pages/13545 no. 31632.  p. 13545.]  7 November, 1919.</ref>  He became [[Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth|Commander-in-Chief]] for three years in September, 1920.  He was appointed [[First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King]] in May, 1925 and placed on the Retired List on 4 October, 1926.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/33209/pages/6440 no. 33209.  p. 6440.]  8 October, 1926.</ref>  He returned to court duty in March, 1929 as [[Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom]], became [[Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom]] in February, 1939, and finally retired in June, 1945.
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In August, 1916 Browning was appointed Commander-in-Chief on the [[North America and West Indies Station]] with the acting rank of {{ViceRN}}, and he assumed command with his flag in the ''Leviathan'' on 13 September.<ref>''Supplement to the Monthly Navy List'' (September, 1917).  p. 7.</ref>  In that capacity he represented his country in discussions with the United States naval authorities on joint action in the conduct of the war at sea. He was confirmed in the rank of Vice-Admiral on 26 April, 1917,<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30037/pages/3955 no. 30037.  p. 3955.]  27 April, 1917.</ref> and in February, 1918 returned to the Grand Fleet to take command of the [[Fourth Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Fourth Battle Squadron]] with his flag in the [[H.M.S. Hercules (1910)|''Hercules'']].  After the armistice of November, 1918 he was appointed president of the allied naval armistice commission, and paid visits in the ''Hercules'' to the German naval ports to see that the settled terms were duly carried out.  The economist J. M. Keynes alleged that Browning had "no idea in his head but the extirpation and further humiliation of a despised and defeated enemy."<ref>Keynes.  ''Two Memoirs''.  p. 13</ref>  Browning joined the Board of Admiralty as [[Second Sea Lord]] in March, 1919 and was promoted to the rank of {{AdmRN}} on 1 November.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31632/pages/13545 no. 31632.  p. 13545.]  7 November, 1919.</ref>  He became [[Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth|Commander-in-Chief]] for three years in September, 1920.  He was appointed [[First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp]] in May, 1925 and placed on the Retired List on 4 October, 1926.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/33209/pages/6440 no. 33209.  p. 6440.]  8 October, 1926.</ref>  He returned to court duty in March, 1929 as [[Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom]], became [[Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom]] in February, 1939, and finally retired in June, 1945.
  
 
==Footnotes==
 
==Footnotes==

Revision as of 16:54, 3 February 2011

Admiral SIR Montague Edward Browning, G.C.B., G.C.M.G, G.C.V.O., Royal Navy (18 January, 1863 – 4 November, 1947) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Early Life & Career

Captaincy

In a letter to Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Fisher described Browning as a "Psalm-singing fool."[1]

Great War

Browning then hoisted his flag in the Hibernia as Rear-Admiral in the Third Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet. In July, 1915 he was appointed to the command of the Third Cruiser Squadron, with his flag in the Antrim, which with the Third Battle Squadron had been stationed at Rosyth since the war began. In April, 1916 both squadrons were detached from the Grand Fleet and moved to the Swin (Thames estuary), then returned north after the battle of Jutland. In the King's Birthday Honours of 3 June, 1916, he was appointed a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.).[2]

In August, 1916 Browning was appointed Commander-in-Chief on the North America and West Indies Station with the acting rank of Vice-Admiral, and he assumed command with his flag in the Leviathan on 13 September.[3] In that capacity he represented his country in discussions with the United States naval authorities on joint action in the conduct of the war at sea. He was confirmed in the rank of Vice-Admiral on 26 April, 1917,[4] and in February, 1918 returned to the Grand Fleet to take command of the Fourth Battle Squadron with his flag in the Hercules. After the armistice of November, 1918 he was appointed president of the allied naval armistice commission, and paid visits in the Hercules to the German naval ports to see that the settled terms were duly carried out. The economist J. M. Keynes alleged that Browning had "no idea in his head but the extirpation and further humiliation of a despised and defeated enemy."[5] Browning joined the Board of Admiralty as Second Sea Lord in March, 1919 and was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 1 November.[6] He became Commander-in-Chief for three years in September, 1920. He was appointed First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp in May, 1925 and placed on the Retired List on 4 October, 1926.[7] He returned to court duty in March, 1929 as Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom, became Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom in February, 1939, and finally retired in June, 1945.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Fear God and Dread Nought. p. 439.
  2. ↑ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29608. p. 5553. 2 June, 1916.
  3. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List (September, 1917). p. 7.
  4. ↑ London Gazette: no. 30037. p. 3955. 27 April, 1917.
  5. ↑ Keynes. Two Memoirs. p. 13
  6. ↑ London Gazette: no. 31632. p. 13545. 7 November, 1919.
  7. ↑ London Gazette: no. 33209. p. 6440. 8 October, 1926.

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Sir Montague Browning" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 6 November, 1947. Issue 50911, col E, pg. 7.
  • Baddeley, V. W. (1959). Dictionary of National Biography: 1941-1950 Supplement. London: Oxford University Press.

Service Records


Naval Offices
Preceded by
Richard H. Peirse 		Inspector of Target Practice
1911 – 1913 		Succeeded by
Position Abolished
Preceded by
Cecil F. Thursby 		Rear-Admiral in the Third Battle Squadron
1913 – 1915 		Succeeded by
Sydney R. Fremantle
Preceded by
William L. Grant 		Rear-Admiral Commanding,
Third Cruiser Squadron
1915 – 1916 		Succeeded by
Command Abolished
Preceded by
Sir George E. Patey 		Commander-in-Chief on the North America and West Indies Station
1916 – 1918 		Succeeded by
William L. Grant
Preceded by
Sir F. C. Doveton Sturdee 		Vice-Admirals Commanding,
Fourth Battle Squadron
1918 – 1919 		Succeeded by
Command Abolished
Preceded by
Sir Herbert L. Heath 		Second Sea Lord
1919 – 1920 		Succeeded by
Sir Henry F. Oliver
Preceded by
The Hon. Sir Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe 		First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp
1925 – 1926 		Succeeded by
Sir Arthur C. Leveson
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