4th Battalion, Australian Infantry
Bernard John Browning was born at Upton on Severn, Worcestershire in 1887. From 1897 until April 1910 he lived with his parents (Albert James and Harriet Laura Browning) at Severn Farm, near Quedgeley, when he emigrated to New South Wales in Australia and became a vehicle driver.
He applied to join the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 4 August 1915 and enlisted on 10 August at Warwick Farm, New South Wales. Initially he was assigned to 6 Reinforcement, 19th Battalion, for training, before boarding the troopship HMAT Euripides at Sydney, bound for Egypt, on 2 November 1915.
Upon arrival he was posted to 4th Battalion Australian Infantry, at Tel-el-Kebir and was promoted to Lance Corporal on 16 February 1916. On 23 March 1916 the Battalion sailed from Alexandria to Marseilles, aboard HMT Simla, arriving at its destination on 30 March 1916.
On 3 June 1916 he was admitted to the Anglo-American Hospital at Wimereux with appendicitis and on 9 June 1916 transported to England onboard the HS St Denis: the following day he was admitted to the County of London Hospital at Epsom, Surrey. He stayed there until discharged to Tidworth on 12 July 1916. It was likely that this was actually to No 1 Command Depot, AIF, Perham Downs, Wiltshire.
He was granted a fortnight’s special sick leave from 11 to 24 August 1916 (inclusive) and travelled to Quedgeley to stay with his parents. On the 16th he was returning home by taxi from Gloucester, having been visiting his aunt, when the car left the road at the Rea Bridge and plunged into the Gloucester-Sharpness Canal (described in contemporary reports as the ‘Gloucester to Berkeley Canal’). Both Browning and taxi driver were drowned. An inquest and Army Court of Inquiry declared that the bridge and approach road were dangerous for cars unable to use headlights (the car was fitted with two oil lamps, due to wartime restrictions) and death was accidental.
Browning was buried with full military honours in a grave in Quedgeley (St James) Churchyard.
The exact location of the grave is not known and the CWGC has erected a headstone stating: Known to be buried in this churchyard.
Researched by Graham Adams 28 July 2010
Photo obtained from Australian National Archives www.ww1austburialsuk.weebly.co .