The Australian Boer War Memorial
Anzac Parade Canberra

 
 
Captain (Later Brigadier-General) Alfred Bessell-Browne CB, DSO, VD, MID

Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: Alfred Joseph Bessell-Browne (Brown - Murray)

Ancestor's date of birth: 03/09/1877

Ancestor's date of death: 03/08/1947

Cause of Death: age related

Service and Life Before the Boer War: Alfred Bessell-Browne was born in Auckland, New Zealand, on 3 September 1877, the son of an insurance inspector. The family immigrated to New South Wales where Bessell-Browne attended Camden Grammar (Camden NSW). They later moved to Western Australia where he attended Perth High School. Bessell-Browne's first job was as a clerk in the patents office in 1896.

Bessell-Browne enlisted in the Perth Artillery Volunteers held the rank of sergeant in 1899 when he volunteered for South Africa, enlisting in the 1st Western Australian Contingent as a private.

Service Number: 21 (prior to commission)

Colony or State of enlistment: WA, Place of Enlistment: Perth

Unit: 1st Western Australian Mounted Infantry

Rank attained in Boer War: CAPT, Date Effective: 25/06/1901

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): BRIGGEN, Date Effective: 20/01/1917 (Rank changed to brigadier in 1929)

Murray Page: 396, 399, 418 and 421

Contingent: First Western Australian

Ship: SS Medic, Date of Sailing: 07/11/1899

Ship: SS Devon, Date of Sailing: 06/03/1901

Other Boer War Service: With 5 WAMI April 1901 - April 1902 in east Transvaal under Walter Kitchener including defeat at Brakpan where three dead (16 May 1901); amalgamated with 6th WA Mounted Infantry May 1901 - April 1902 under Major J. R. Royston

Memorial details: The Clock in the Merredin Town Hall was dedicated in memory of the fallen soldiers of World War One. The memorial tablet was unveiled by Brigadier-General Bessell-Browne DSO, CMG, VD, on Anzac Day 1928. His name appears on the memorial tablet.

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Cape Colony, OFS, Diamond Hill and Johannesburg clasps; King's South Africa Medal with South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902. 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal. CB, CMG, DSO, VD, MID (7).

Personal Characteristics: 172 cm tall, 80 kg in weight (1914)

Reasons to go and fight: A serving soldier.

Details of service in war: Service: November 1899 - October 1900 in northern Cape Colony including defence of Australian Hill (9 February 1900), Free State, and Transvaal including battle of Diamond Hill (11-12 June 1900) and reverse at Palmietfontein (19 July 1900); part of Australian Regiment November 1899-April 1900, converted to mounted rifles December 1899, joined to 1st NSW Mounted Rifles April-October 1900 Bessell-Browne was promoted to captain in June 1901 and in July was mentioned in dispatches 'For Conspicuous Gallantry at Brakpan 16 May 1901' at the same time he was also reported dangerously ill with Enteric fever. He received a second mention in dispatches in the London Gazette 31 September 1902 for 'Conspicuous good service in General Bruce Hamilton's operations in the Ermelo District December 1901 and January 1902' and this time was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). From March to May 1902 he was attached to the staff of Colonel Frederick Wing the British Column commander.

Service and life after the Boer War: Bessell-Browne returned to Australia in May 1902 and rejoined the 1st Western Australian Field Battery with the rank of lieutenant and honorary captain. He was promoted to captain in 1908 and the following year took the Diploma of Military Science course at the University of Sydney. He was promoted to major on 28 August 1911, and took command of his battery, now known as the 37th Field Battery.

On 28 August 1914, Bessell-Browne was appointed to the AIF with the rank of major and given command of the 8th Field Artillery Battery. He called for volunteers from his battery, the whole parade stepped forward. Bessell-Browne and his battery departed Fremantle for Egypt on 2 November 1914 and arrived there on 12 December 1914.

Bessell-Browne arrived at Anzac on 1 May 1915, his unit was restricted by a lack of good gun positions. Bessell-Browne and his unit saw repeated action on Anzac both in support of Australian troops and by direst fire on Turkish positions. On 2 August 1915, Bessell-Browne took over as commander of the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade. He was switched to the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade on 27 August, back to the 3rd again on 8 September and then back to the 2nd on 13 September. During the evacuation of Anzac he commanded the Rear Party Artillery. For his services at Gallipoli, Bessell-Browne was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) and Mentioned in Despatches.

Bessell-Browne was promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel on 15 October 1915, a promotion made permanent on 1 January 1916. He was evacuated to Egypt sick on 12 January 1916. He rejoined the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade in Egypt on 19 February 1916. It embarked for France on 12 March. Bessell-Browne's brigade participated in the attack on the Pozières, which saw first use of a creeping barrage by Australian troops. On 8 September 1916 he was attached to the 1st Division Artillery and took command of that from 28 September 1916 to 18 January 1917 in the absence of Brigadier General Hobbs.

On 18 January 1917, Bessell-Browne became commander of the 5th Division Artillery. Two days later he was promoted to colonel and temporary brigadier general. He commanded the 5th Division Artillery at Bullecourt and Third Ypres, where he employed artillery to cover the flank. In the mobile warfare that followed the German offensive of 1918, Bessell-Browne showed himself flexible and adaptable and pioneered new tactics to provide close support for infantry. In the attack on Bellecourt, he was able to put down an accurate barrage at 90 degrees from the line of sight to cover the attack at Le Catelet. From 16 to 24 October 1918, Bessell-Browne commanded the US 30th Division's artillery, for which he was awarded the American Distinguished Service Medal.

On 8 November 1918, Bessell-Browne took Anzac leave to return to Australia on furlough. The war ended three days later so he rejoined the 5th Division artillery on 1 December 1918. He finally returned to Australia in 19 April 1919 and was demobilised in July. For his services in France, Bessell-Browne was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) and had been mentioned in dispatches no less than seven times during World War One. He finished the war as a brigadier general. He also held the C&AFLS medal as well as the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers Decoration (VD).

He was Honorary Colonel to the 28th Battalion as well as 3rd Field (Artillery) Brigade and from 1917-1920 was Aide de Camp to the Governor General.

After the war, he established an indent agents' firm. Retiring initially in 1935 he returned during World War II to command the Volunteer Defence Corps in Western Australia. He retired finally as a brigadier in 1942.

Survived by his wife, three daughters and four of their five sons, he died of cancer on 3 August 1947 and was cremated with full military honours.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Helen Thomson, Erina Fair NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Niece

Name of Descendant: Megan Murray, West Pennant Hills NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Niece

 


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