Born in Dublin on the 9th of July 1818, the son of Dr. Thomas Brown, M.D., who had served in India with the 19th Light Dragoons and was later with the 26th and 83rd Foot, and on the Medical Staff at Dublin from 1814-24.
Lummis and Wynn, in their book, "Honour the Light Brigade", refer to him as "John George" Brown, but every other known source shows him as "George John" Brown.
Previous to entering the Army, Colonel Nathan Wilson, late of the 4th Light Dragoons, had written to Lord Hill on George Brown's behalf:
"I am hoping to obtain the favourable consideration of the Commander-in-Chief in regard to obtaining a cornetcy for him.
This young gentleman has £300 a year in his minority, and will eventually be entitled to a fortune of some £30,000. He is very desirous of entering the service, for which he is perfectly well qualified."
Cornet in the 4th Light Dragoons: 7th of April 1840.
Lieutenant: 14th of July 1843.
Captain: 30th of January 1846.
Lord George Paget, in his Journal of the Crimean War, mentions that in the Charge at Balaclava Brown was one of the two squadron leaders, and that the 4th reached the guns:
"I observed twenty or thirty yards ahead two or three of the guns scrambling away, drawn by horses with lasso-harness, which it was evident, had thus been attached so that they might be drawn away at the very last moment, upon which I said to Captain Brown, who was close to me, 'There are some guns getting away. Take some of your men and stop them,' which order, I need not say, was promptly and very effectually obeyed.'"
Brevet-Major: 12th of December 1854.
Major: 12th of May 1857.
Lieutenant-Colonel: 4th of May 1860, and assumed the command of the Regiment.
Retired, and on to half-pay: 4th of May 1865.
Major Brown served the Eastern campaign of 1854-55, including the battles of Alma, Balaklava, Inkerman (wounded), and Tchernaya, and siege of Sebastopol, and present with the Light Cavalry Brigade in Eupatoria. (Medal and Clasps, Knight of the Legion of Honor and 5th Class of the Medjidie).
[Source: Hart's Army List 1859, p.139.]
He was wounded in action at Balaclava, but is said to have remained on duty. Lummis and Wynn state that he was also wounded at Inkerman, but he does not appear as such on any known casualty lists.
He was photographed by Fenton in 1855 with his unknown soldier servant, both wearing heavy sheepskin coats.
[Source: Library of Congress: www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/ftncnw/item/2001697690/ (accessed 2.12.2017).]
[Source: From a copy photograph in the EJBA: Brigade and 4LD album no.58 (no further info). The annotation is not in EJB's hand. Who might have added it? If the figure on the left is indeed Fenton, this would be remarkable since clearly he has deliberately dressed himself in an officer's uniform and placed himself among the officers, who are untroubled by the masquerade. (There is always something playful in Fenton's images.) Fenton is known to have impersonated people for photograph e.g. as a Zouave. His assistant, Marcus Sparling, would have made the exposure. Download a larger image here.]
The NAM copy (accesson no. "NAM. 1964-12-151-6-35"> can be seen here (accessed 5.12.2017).]
[Source: ? Download a larger image here.
[Source: ? Download a larger image here.]
[Source: From a copy photograph in the EJBA: Brigade and 4LD album no.12 (no further info). ]
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol, the Turkish Medal, Order of the Medjidie, 5th Class, and Knight of the Legion of Honour.
His Crimean medal is believed to be in the Museum of the Royal Norfolk Regiment at Norwich.
[PB: However, see below.]
After living at the "Prospect Hotel", Harrogate, he went to Brighton, and died there on the 7th of February 1871 at 8, Medina Mansions. Arrears of his pension were paid over to Henry Briscoe Esq., and Major General Alexander Low.
[See below for his relationship to Henry Briscoe.]
Death registered
George John Brown, aged 50, March Quarter 1871, Steyning.
His obituary notice in the Brighton Gazette states that he died on the 7th of February 1871 at 8, Medina Villas, Cliftonville, Hove, aged 50 years.
[PB: Where was he buried?]
[PB, December 2017: George Brown's Crimea medal cam up for auction...ADD INFO]
An extensive 19th Century family campaign medal group including a those of confirmed Charge of the Light Brigade charger, comprising Seringapatam Medal in silver (48mm), that of Surgeon Thomas Brown, 19th Light Dragoons, a pair comprising Military General Service Medal with Albuhera and Busaco clasps, impressed to Edwd Briscoe, Capt, 97th Foot, Army of India Medal with Ava clasp impressed to Captn E Briscoe, 41st Foot, Brig Maj, a single Indian Mutiny Medal impressed to Lieut E V Briscoe, 75 Ft, a group of four comprising Crimea Medal with Sebastopol, Inkermann, Balaklava and Alma clasps, to Brevet Major G J Brown, 4th Light Dragoons, Turkish Crimea Medal, Ottoman Order of the Medjidie, and French Legion d'Honneur, and a pair comprising Afghanistan Medal to Lt H M Briscoe, 4th Beng N I and India General Service Medal with Burma 1885-7 clasp to Captain H M Briscoe, 42nd Bl Infy.
The medals set into an old velvet-covered mount, together with two detached ivorine plaques detailing the relationship of the medal recipients.
[Edward Briscoe, uncle of Edward Villiers Briscoe and great uncle of Henry Manley Briscoe, Thomas Brown father or uncle of George Brown, Brown and Briscoe families joined by marriage.
Captain John George Browne, confirmed Light Brigade "charger" by all authorities, wounded in the charge whilst in charge of the left-hand squadron. Dutton states in error that the medals are held by the Royal Norfolk Regiment museum. The lot is accompanied by a letter from the Norfolk Museums Service stating they "cannot find any record of ever having Captain John George Brown's medals".]
[Source: the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/laidlaw-auctioneers-and-valuers/catalogue-id-srlai10034/lot-06c3756c-6a01-433c-9cbe-a83c00fed2e3 (accessed 2.12.2017.]