Royal Engineers: Francis Fowke Memorial Medal. Silver issue (2nd Lieut. C. M. Browne, R.E. 1899.)

Instituted: Established by the Royal Engineers Institute in 1872, and awarded annually in silver, and in bronze.

Designer: George Thomas Morgan

Obverse: Legend 'Francis Fowke' with portrait of Captain Francis Fowke, R.E. wearing tunic with 'Captain's' rank insignia on the collar

Reverse: An ornate laurel border, with central inscription on 5 x lines 'MEMORAL MEDALS ESTABLISHED BY THE OFFICERS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS AS AN ARCHITECTURAL PRIZE IN THE CORPS'

Metal: Silver

Dimension: 58mm

Depth: 7mm

Weight: 154g

Named: 2nd Lieut. C.M. Browne, R.E. 1899

Sold together with:

- Original plush hinged leatherette case of issue. This with makers address on inner silk panel J. W. Benson, Ltd. watchmaker to H. M. the late Queen, 82 & 64. Ludgate Hill London E.G.

Captain Francis Fowke (7 July 1823 – 4 December 1865) was a British Engineer, Architect and a captain in the Royal Engineers, who was educated at the School of Military Engineering. Among his projects were the Prince Consort's Library in Aldershot, the Royal Albert Hall and parts of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Royal Museum in Edinburgh, and the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin. He was also responsible for planning the 1862 International Exhibition in London

The presentation of the Fowke Medal was instituted by the Institution of Royal Engineers, as an annual memorial prize for young officers who demonstrated outstanding architectural ability at the School of Military Engineering. From 1872, the medal was awarded annually in silver for Commissioned Officers, and in bronze for Non-Commissioned Officers. With the demise of great architectural works the Silver medals ceased being awarded to Officer's sometime prior to 1940. Since circa 1946, the medal is now only awarded in bronze to Non-Commissioned-Officers. who are the top student in each of the Clerk of Works (Construction), (Electrical), (Mechanical) and Military Plant Foreman's courses at the Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME)

Provenance: Noonan's, December 2006

The recipient Colonel Charles Michael Browne, C.M.G., D.S.O., was holding the appointment of Director Survey of India, and where he died at Madras on 30 August 1929

The recipients impressive array of gazetted orders and awards were:

C.M.G. London Gazette 2 January 1918

D.S.O. London Gazette 3 July 1903 - an outstanding gallantry award for Gumatti Fort, Waziristan 1902

M.I.D. London Gazette 22 June 1915, 1 January 1916, 15 May 1917, 11 December 1917, 3 February 1920

Legion of Honour London Gazette 24 February 1916

Charles Michael Browne was born on 26 November 1878 and attended the Royal Military Academy, from which he joined the Royal Engineers as a 2nd Lieutenant on 23 December 1897. He then studied at the School of Military Engineering, being awarded the Fowkes' Medal in 1899. Browne was advanced Lieutenant the next year and posted to India where he served in Waziristan campaign 1901-02 in the 5th Field Company, 2nd Division. November 1902 saw Browne take an important role in the capture of the Gumatti Fort during the operations against the Darwesh Khel's, for which he was awarded a D.S.O. in July 1903. He was later promoted Captain and then Major.

Browne entered the Great War as an Adjutant, disembarking at France on 20 January 1915. During the war he was mentioned in despatches no less than four times, and for his distinguished service during the campaign was made a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour in 1916 and a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1918. After the end of the Great War, then Lieutenant-Colonel Browne served in the Russian Relief Force in southern Russia. For his work in Russia he was again mentioned in despatches.

Browne at some stage returned to India, where he worked as Director Survey of India and his medals were sent to the Surveyor General of India at Wood Street in Calcutta. He later died at Madras on 30 August 1929

With single small edge bruise to rim, which does not affect the naming, otherwise a magnificent medal of considerable Royal Engineers interest

Very scarce

Condition: GVF

Code: 25166