Frederick Browning
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Sir Frederick Arthur Montague Browning, KBE, CB, DSO (December 20, 1896 - March 14, 1965) was a British military officer. His most famous role was as the commander of First Allied Airborne Army in Operation Market Garden. He was known affectionately as "Boy" Browning.
His military career began in World War I, when he had the honour of meeting Winston Churchill, who later placed him in command of the 1st Airborne Division. He held various commands, until 1935, when he was the commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. He held that position until about the time of the outbreak of World War II, when he became Commandant of the Small Arms School. In 1940, he was given command of the 24th Guards Brigade.
In 1941 Churchill, who had by then become Prime Minister, appointed him as commander of the British 1st Airborne Division. He held that position through the unit's fighting in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy.
In 1943, he was given command of British First Airborne Corps, which in 1944 became part of First Allied Airborne Army. US Lieutenant-General Lewis H Brereton gained command of the Army and Browning became deputy commander and retained his position as commander of the British Airborne Corps.
Browning was in command of the airborne forces from the First Allied Airborne Army committed during Operation Market Garden, landing with a tactical headquarters near Nijmegen but finding it difficult to command the troops due to communications failures and their geographical separation.
Although Field Marshal Montgomery attached no blame to Browning for the failure of Operation Market Garden, he received no further promotion from his current rank as Lieutenant General. He was given a command in Southeast Asia, and his last major military command was as General Secretary of the War Office.
He was married to the novelist Dame Daphne du Maurier.
Weblinks
- arnhemarchive.org (http://www.arnhemarchive.org/frederick_browning.htm)de:Frederick Browning