Bridge of Weir Memorial

SIG R M BROWNING R.G.A.

205986 Gunner Robert Moodie Browning

26th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery

died of wounds 13th September 1918

aged 32

Dominion Cemetery, Hendecourt-Les-Cagnicourt
St Machar's Church Memorial, Bridge of Weir
Kilbarchan Cemetery

Son of James Robert Browning and Marjory MacGraw
Dunardrie, Bridge of Weir

His Life

Robert Moodie Browning was born on 10th June 1886 in Bridge of Weir, the eldest of a family of four born to James Robert Browning, a picture frame maker from Kilbarchan and Marjory MacGraw, from Fortingal, Perthshire, who had married in Glasgow on 16th September 1884.

In 1891 James (34), Marjory (34), and their first three children Robert, James and Marjory were living in Gryffe Place, Bridge of Weir. Marjory's mother, Marjory MacGraw (ms MacDonald) (69) of Logierait, Perthshire, was also resident with her occupation noted as manufacturer.

By 1901 the Browning family, including Marjory's mother (79), were visiting Neva Place, Bridge of Weir, the home of Marjory Browning (70), the mother of James. They may have been lodging there between homes but three Marjory's in the same household, albeit temporarily, is an unusual consequence. James's infant child Marjory had died at the age of 20 months in 1893. James and son Robert (14) were picture framers. James junior and a 7-year-old Jane were at school.

In 1911, the family was living in Dunardrie, an 8-roomed house in Kilbarchan Road, Ranfurly, Bridge of Weir. James and both sons were in the family picture frame business, with Robert (24) employed as a clerk and James junior as a commercial traveller. Mother-in-law Marjory was 89 years old.

Robert M Browning served as a Signaller in the Royal Garrison Artillery, which had the big guns located many miles behind the infantry lines.

Gunner Browning's Medal Index Card does not record when he first joined the theatre of war but he was not awarded the 1914 -15 Star. He died of wounds on 13th September 1918 and is buried in Hendecourt-Les-Cagnicourt between Arras and Cambrai in the Pas de Calais, France. The village had been captured by the 57th (West Lancashire) and 52nd (Lowland) Division on the night of the 1st-2nd September, 1918.

Siblings

1891 Census		1901 Census		1911 Census		Birthplace
Name	Age	Name	Age	Name	Age
Robert M	4	Robert M	14	Robert	24	Bridge of Weir
James M	2	James M	12	James	22	Bridge of Weir
Marjory M	7 mo					Bridge of Weir
		Jane	7	Jane	17	Bridge of Weir

Sources

Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Scottish National War Memorial
UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
Robert Moodie Browning birth certificate, 10th Jun 1886. Regd Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire 24th June 1886.
1891 UK Census: Parish: Kilbarchan; ED:9; Page:8; Line:16; Roll: CSSCT1891_185.
1901 UK Census: Parish: Kilbarchan; ED:2; Page:11; Line:10; Roll: CSSCT1901_188.
1911 UK Census: Parish: Kilbarchan & Bridge of Weir. Ward: Bridge of Weir; Page 5; lines 2-7. 559/0B 004/00 005.
St Machar's Church of Scotland Death and Interment Register:

Browning, Robert Moodie; Gunner, 26th Heavy Batty. R.G.A.; Dunardrie; Killed in Action 13 Sept 1918 V.7.B. 46. 51B; aged 32.

Kilbarchan Cemetery Monumental Inscription:
o In loving memory of JAMES MACGRAW died at Balnacraig, Fortingal 8th Oct. 1865 aged 56 years his wife MARJORY MACDONALD died at Dunardrie, Bridge of Weir 22nd Dec. 1912 aged 90 years also JAMES R. BROWNING died 18th April 1917 aged 60 years his daughter MARJORY died 23rd April 1893 aged 20 months his son ROBERT (Signaller R.G.A.) died in France 13th Sept. 1918 aged 32 years his wife MARJORY MACGRAW died 24th Sept. 1940 aged 85 years.
Medals: Victory, British War
Robert Moodie Browning in IWM Lives of the First World War

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