Dorothy “Dot” Mary Gore Browne

Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.

Dorothy “Dot” Mary Gore Browne was born on 29^th April 1880 in Calcutta, India to civil servant Spencer Gore Browne and Fanny Tudor Browne nee St Quintin. She was baptised on 27^th May 1880 at St Paul’s Cathedral, Calcutta. At the time of the baptism, the family lived in Calcutta and Spencer was working as an auditor of the East Indian Railway.

Dorothy had two siblings: Harold “Hal” born on 9^th August 1881 and Eric born on 2nd October 1885, both in Calcutta.

Harold was baptised on 17^th September 1881 and Eric, on 17^th November 1885, at St Paul’s Cathedral in Calcutta. At the time of the baptisms, the family resided in Calcutta and father Spencer was working as the chief auditor of the East Indian Railway.

At the time of the 1891 Census, Dot and her brother Eric were staying at their paternal grandmother’s house in London Road, Guildford, Surrey. The widowed Hannah Eliza Browne was living on her own means. The family further comprised of Hannah’s children: Florence and club secretary Harold. The household employed a nurse and general domestic servant.

At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at 25 Melbury Mansions, Kensington, London. Spencer was a clerk and Fanny was at home with their children, Dorothy and Harold. The family further comprised of a cook and parlourmaid.

At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at Rowledge House, Farnham, Surrey. Spencer was working as a railway auditor and accountant, Fanny was at home with Dorothy and Eric was working as a barrister at law. The family was looked after by domestic servants: Elizabeth and Minnie Cooper. The accommodation had eight rooms.

Both of Dorothy’s brothers were in the army during WW1. In 1914 Eric became a Captain of the Post Office Rifles.

In 1916, Dot became a Commandant at Anstie Grange Auxiliary Hospital in Holmwood, near Dorking. Her cousin, Genesta Mary Heath (Lady Genesta Hamilton) wrote: ”She has already run the Hill Hospital at Farnham for ‘Tommies’ for two years before taking on Anstie, and now her hospitals were the best to be found anywhere. Everyone loved the Commandant, I have known her ever since I can remember, so it was different for me, but the others did so, simply because they could not help it”. http://www.jjhc.info/hamiltongenesta1990.htm

Genesta was the daughter of the founder of Anstie Grange Hospital, Cuthbert Ede Heath. Her diary dating 29^th October 1916 reads: “I joined the pantry staff at Anstie, which has been turned into a first-line hospital for 50 officer patients. There is a modern operating theatre and everything is up to date. There are 50 staff, including doctors, nurses and orderlies, my cousin Dot [Dorothy] Gore Browne is the commandant. Father pays all the expenses, which is vast.”
http://www.heathcaldwell.com/timeline_lw/1916

Genesta also described Dorothy’s likeness in a diary entry from 26^th December 1916: “We had a signal that convoy is coming to right. Doreen [Dorothy] Gore Brown[e], tall, statuesque and beautiful in a red uniform with a very long white veil on her dark hair, stood in the doorway holding up a lantern; a perfect vision of safety and comfort to the tired, strained and suffering men as they arrived.” http://www.heathcaldwell.com/timeline_lw/1916

Dorothy was awarded the Royal Red Cross, the 2^nd Class in 1918.

Dot’s mother Fanny died on 26^th August 1921 at 1 Grand Avenue Mansions, Hove, Sussex. She left her son Harold £34 and 4s and husband Spencer £2, 603, 3s and 9d in probate.

Dot’s father Spencer died in the 1^st quarter of 1933 in Steying, Sussex. He was 84 years old.

Dorothy of 1 Fourth Avenue Mansions, Hove, Sussex, died on 3^rd April 1950. She left £18,002, 10s and 7d in probate.

Gore Browne Family History

Dorothy’s father Spencer was born on 24^th November 1848 in Boulogne, France to Colonel of the Scot’s Fusilier Guards Robert Francis Melville Browne and Hannah Eliza Browne nee Nicholetts. Spencer was baptised on 25^th January 1849 at the New British church, Boulogne. At the time of the baptism, the family resided in Boulogne and Robert was a Colonel in Her Britannic Majesty’s Service.

Robert was born to General Gore Browne. Hannah was born about 1820 in Bengal, East India to Gilbert Nicholetts. Dorothy’s paternal grandparents Colonel Robert Francis Melville Browne and Hannah Eliza Nicholetts married on 11^th September 1841 at the parish church in Melcombe Regis, Dorset. At the time of the marriage, the couple lived in Melcombe Regis. Colonel Robert Francis Melville Browne died in the 4^th quarter of 1860 in Guildford.

At the time of the 1861 Census, the family lived at 3 New Road, Guildford. The household comprised of the widowed Hannah, her children: Spencer, Isabel, Arthur, Harold and Florence, stepdaughter Julia Jeneth and a domestic servant. Hannah lived on income derived from houses. In 1866, the family resided in Commercial Road, Guildford. At the time of the 1871 Census, the family still lived in Commercial Road. Lady Hannah and her children:  Spencer, Isabel and Florence were looked after by a general servant.

Dorothy’s mother Fanny Tudor St Quintin was born on 26^th October 1849 at sea, in the Cape of Good Hope, Africa to civil servant William, born about 1807 in India, and Annabela Mary (nee Cassam), born about 1827 in India. Fanny was baptised on 15^th December 1849. The baptism was performed at sea, aboard the ship Tudor, in the Bay of Bengal, India.

At the time of the 1861 Census, the family lived at 21 Royal Parade, Cheltenham. William, Annabella and their nine children were looked after by a governess, nurse, housemaid, parlourmaid, cook and nurse maid.

Spencer and Fanny  married in the 1^st quarter of 1879 in Lewisham, London.

The 1951 London, England, Electoral Registers reads that Sir Eric Gore Browne and Lady Mary Imogen Gore Browne lived at 7 King Street in London.

The UK, Incoming Passenger List reads that Sir Eric, a banker, and Lady Mary departed on the SS Empress of Scotland, from Quebec, Canada to Liverpool on 13^th July 1951. The couple resided at Glaston House, Uppingham, Rutland.

Sir Eric, kt., D.S.O., O.B.E. of 67 Lombard Street, London and Glaston House, died on 28^th May 1964 at Middlesex Hospital, St Marylebone, London. He left £23,284 in probate

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