SOLDIER’S ROMANCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2429, 18 February 1909, Page 2

SOLDIER’S ROMANCE.

COL. BROWNE’S MARRIAGE. ECHO OF THE ZULU WAR. Some time ago tho London papers contained long-accounts of Colonel O'. Hamilton Browne, a veteran officer of Colonial Irregulars, who was stranded in London, and was willing to black boots for a living. Colonel Browne, generally called “Maori,” because- his first service was in New Zealand, in 18GG-7 (for whicb he received the modal), is 63 years of age, gray, and sturdy, rather like Lord Roberts in appearance. Although lie holds medals also for the Zulu, Gale-lea, Basuto, Matabele, and the Maslionaland Avars, was commended for gallantry at Rorke’s Drift, raised the Umtali Rifles, and held important positions in the service, he was an irregular, so cannot receive a pension, and, being an officer, cannot join the. Corps of Commissionaires. Reduced to extremities, he lived for three weeks on the sale of his medals, and then applied to the Salvation Army. When his position was made known he received assistance from many quarters. On'c day a letter came from a lady, asking if he was the same Hamilton Browne who had served in Zululand, and saved the life of a man whose name she gave. Ho was the same, and lie wrote tellinss her of the. incident. Tho lady had been engaged to the man avlioso life was saved, but ho died later in the Soudan, and she never married. The correspondence with Colonel Browne led to a meeting, and the acquaintance ripened into an engagement. The marriage took place on January 1, and, as the lady is .wealthy, the vicissitudes of the veteran soldier are probably ended. The colonel and his bride were married quietly. The bride is Miss Sarah Wallis ' Wilke mm, of The Beeches, Melbourn, Cambridge.