The Crimea
In the autumn of 1851 he was in Ireland, doing duty first at Clonmel, and then at Kilkenny. Promoted second captain on 7 February 1854, he went to Chatham in July to take command of the 1st Company of Royal sappers and Miners. He put it through a course of field work instruction, and on 5 January 1855 embarked with it for the Crimea. On reaching Balaclava on 5 February, Browne and his company were soon moved to the trenches of the British right attack on Sevastopol, and remained there until near the end of August.
On 22 March 1855, and again on 5 April, Browne took part in the repulse of sorties made in force by the Russians. He was promoted to first captain on 1 June and was the Senior Executive Officer of Engineers on 7 June, when he rendered conspicuous service in the successful attack on the quarry outworks covering the Redan. The execution of the arrangements as well as the general superintendence of the work was in his hands. Captain (afterwards Field-marshal Viscount) Wolseley of the 90th Foot was his assistant engineer, and Browne reported in high terms of his conduct. Browne was mentioned in the despatches both of Sir Harry Jones (8 June) and of Lord Raglan (9 June). On 17 July he received a brevet majority.
When Lieutenant-colonel Richard Tylden, of the Royal Engineers, director of the right attack, was fatally wounded on 18 June 1855, his duties devolved on Browne. But on 24 August Browne was severely wounded, and on 18 November was invalided home. He was mentioned in Sir Harry Jones's despatch of 9 September 1855.
For his services in the Crimea Browne was created CB (military division) and a Knight of the Legion of Honour; he received the British Crimea Medal with clasp for Sevastopol, the Sardinian Crimea Medal, the Turkish Crimea Medal, the Order of the Medjidie (Fifth Class), and a second brevet, that of lieutenant-colonel, was gazetted on 26 December 1856. A pension of 200l. a year, awarded him for three years, was afterwards made permanent.
