The British version It was Lieut. Samuel J. Browne of the 36th Bengal Native Infantry (later General Sir Sam Browne VC, GCB, KCSI) who received orders to raise a regiment of Punjab cavalry in Lahore to be designated the 2nd Punjab Irregular Cavalry. The 5th was raised at Mooltan by Captain Robert Fitzpatrick of the 12th Bombay Native Infantry.

Both regiments were promptly engaged in frontier operations. Both 2nd and 5th went to the seat of action when the Great Mutiny began in 1857 and Captain Dighton Probyn was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Browne, now a Captain (brevet Major ?), charged and captured a rebel gun, accompanied by only a single Sowar. He lost his left arm but earned a Victoria Cross. The decoration had only recently been instituted and there is no doubt that it was awarded rather more liberally than in later years but it is certain that there was no lack of opportunities for young officers with fire in their belly and the need to secure advancement.

The mutiny operations completed, both regiments returned to the Frontier and, in 1861, they were regularised and became the 2nd and the 5th Punjab Cavalry.  It was at about this time that the famous Sam Browne belt was to make its appearance, an item of dress to be adopted widely and surely one of the few accoutrements still to be in use 130 years later with little or no change. The colonel, having lost his left arm had difficulty in carrying his sword comfortably, whether mounted or dismounted, leaving his one hand free.  It's design was also intended to carry a leather pistol holster whereby the weapon could be safely carried without the risk of accidental discharge - as the pistols of the day were inclined to do.   The original belt is now on display in the India Room at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst UK.

Sam Browne's Cavalry 12th Frontier Force, Indian Army

This double strap type of harness was worn by some Officers in India. Some believe that it was also designed by Sam Browne and later modified into his famous single strap model.  Others believe that he did not design this version but found that he could not wear it properly because he had lost his left arm. Those that support this theory claim that the loss of his arm and the inability to wear this harness actually provided the impetus to change it. QUOTE "Recently it has been stated by those in a position to know that as early as 1878 a Sir Basil Montgomery, of the 60th Rifles, had his belt fitted with braces by a saddler in India and that this same type of belt was worn shortly afterwards by a General Sir Sam Browne". Provisional Lieutenant Harold Henry Young, 3rd Military District, 73rd Infantry Regiment, Senior Cadets, aged twenty six years. Note the Victorian Rifle Association Queen's prize badge on his left sleeve. Young was a well known Victorian rifleman who won the Victorian Queen's prize badge in 1913, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1929, 1930 and 1933.

Young served with the 7th Battalion in World War 1 in Gallipoli, France and Belgium. He also served with the 18th Battalion, Volunteer Defence Corps, in World War 2. (Donor R. Courtney)

THE SAM BROWNE BELT:  An American Invention?   By Alfred F. Hopkins, Museum Curator, Morristown National Historical Park, New Jersey. Among the wealth of interesting objects exhibited by the Morristown National Historical Park Museum is one which suggests that Yankee ingenuity inaugurated that current bit of military equipment now universally worn and heretofore attributed to our British cousins, the Sam Browne Belt.

The rattling sabre, while still in service on occasions of pomp and display, was eclipsed during the period of the World War, and in its place as an insignia of rank in most of the armies of the civilized world was substituted that simple harness, consisting of waist belt with breast strap attached, known as a "Sam Browne." In Fascist Italy or Communist Russia, in Parisian Bois de Boulogne, British Piccadilly or Oriental Shanghai, the officer today is readily recognized by those two simple straps, worn with as much jauntiness as ever the sabre was trailed. 

Over the origin of this gear there has been much controversy, although it has always been accepted as having its genesis in the British Army. Some authorities attribute the device, with a double shoulder strap, (see above) to a Major Sam Browne, believing him to have designed it a few years before the Boer War. His design was not officially adopted in the British service until 1900. 

Later the single strap passing from the left side over the right shoulder came into favour. Recently it has been stated by those in a position to know that as early as 1878 a Sir Basil Montgomery, of the 60th Rifles, had his belt fitted with braces by a saddler in India and that this same type of belt was worn shortly afterwards by a General Sir Sam Browne.

The belt in the Morristown collection, however, is wholly American and antedates the British conception by at least half a century. Purchased by the Washington Association of New Jersey in 1886 and donated to the park in 1933, it is of white buckskin, 2-1/4" wide, with a breast strap 7/8" wide, fastening in front with a buckle and terminating at the waist belt in lion head masks, with rings for the attachment of sword slings. 

The belt plate, 2-1/2" square, is of silvered brass, slightly convex in form, and has on its face a spread eagle with shield on breast, surmounted by a scroll with the motto, "E. Pluribus Unum". The period of the belt is early Federal. It was probably made at the time of increasing the American military forces in 1812, and was worn by an officer of infantry, as the silvered plate indicates. It is regrettable that no record remains relating to the designer or wearer of what is probably the first example of this now famous harness.

• Index

• Digger History 2 

• Digger History 3

We use and recommend Riothost  for great web hosting deals. $10/year.

to ensure that the site remains safe for  kids.

No chat room.

14 days   FREE  trial.  

Digger History:  an unofficial history of the Australian & New Zealand Armed Forces