Sir Charles Brownlow | |
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Field Marshal Sir Charles Brownlow c.1900
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Born |
Sultanpur, Bengal |
12 December 1831
Died | 5 April 1916 Warfield, Berkshire |
(aged 84)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch | British Indian Army |
Years of service | 1847–1890 |
Rank | Field Marshal |
Commands held | 8th Regiment of Punjab Infantry |
Battles/wars | Hazara Campaign of 1853 Mohmand Campaign Indian Mutiny Second Opium War Ambela Campaign Hazara Campaign of 1868 Lushai Expedition |
Awards |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Mentioned in Despatches |
Field Marshal Sir Charles Henry Brownlow GCB (12 December 1831 – 5 April 1916) was a senior Indian Army officer. He served on the North West Frontier in the Hazara Campaign of 1853 and the campaign against the Mohmands in 1854. At the start of the Indian Mutiny, Brownlow was asked to raise an infantry regiment and formed the 8th Punjab Infantry which he commanded during that campaign, the Second Opium War, the Ambela Campaign and the Hazara Campaign of 1868. He commanded a column for the Lushai Expedition and then served as Assistant Military Secretary for India for ten years. After his retirement, as senior retired officer of the Indian Army, he was promoted to field marshal.
Born the son of George Arthur Brownlow and Cornelia Paulina Henrietta Brownlow (née Sandby), Brownlow was commissioned into the Bengal Army on 20 December 1847. He became Adjutant of the 1st Sikh Infantry, a unit formed to defend the North West Frontier, in 1851 and, having been promoted to lieutenant on 10 September 1852, he fought in the Hazara Campaign of 1853 and was mentioned in despatches. He also fought in the campaign against the Mohmands in 1854 when he was wounded and again mentioned in despatches.
In 1857, in response to the Indian Mutiny, Brownlow was asked to raise an infantry regiment and formed the 8th Punjab Infantry. During the fighting he remained on the front line in command of his regiment. After taking part in the Yusafzai expedition, like other officers at the time, he obtained a commission in the British Indian Army in August 1858. Promoted to captain on 3 November 1858, he was present at the Battle of the Taku Forts in August 1860 and the subsequent occupation of Peking during the Second Opium War. He joined the Bengal Staff Corps in January 1861 and, following promotion to bevet major on 15 February 1861, he led his regiment at the Battle of Crag Piquet in November 1863 during the Ambela Campaign. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 5 August 1864.