MR. FRANCIS HENRY BROWNING (Lieut.-Col. of the Veteran Corps of the General Reserve), born on June 23, 1868, was killed in Dublin during the Sinn Fein rebellion on April 24 1916 In 1885 and 1886 he was a member of the Marlborough Eleven, averaging 13.00 in the former year and 16.50 in the latter and making 36 runs in two innings in his matches against Rugby. Later he played for Trinity College, Dublin, and the Gentlemen of Ireland, and at his best was an excellent wicket-keeper and an effective batsman with a pretty style. He had played in representative Irish matches against the Australians, South Africans, and Philadelphians, and also in England, Scotland, and America. He had been a member of the M.C.C. since 1890 and was President of the Irish Rugby Football Union. By profession he was a barrister Francis Henry Browning was the son of Jeffrey Browning and Julia Mary Smart. He married Constance Carter, daughter of W. B. Carter. He died on 26 April 1916, from wounds received when shot while returning from a route march with Irish Auxiliary Volunteer Training Corps. Francis Henry Browning was a leading Irish cricketer, a wicketkeeper and handy batsman too - he made over 2000 runs in 1889. He was capped for Ireland at Rugby Football 39 times and sometime President of the Irish Football Union. He was educated at Marlborough College, Marlborough, Wiltshire, England. He was Examiner of Titles, Registry of Ireland. Francis Henry Browning also went by the nick-name of Frank. He was a practising Barrister-at-law. In 1889 made over 2,000 runs. He lived at 17 Herbert Park, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland. Mr F H Browning, the President of the Irish Rugby Football Union was killed during the 1916 Easter Rebellion whille returning from a route march with the 1st (Dublin) Battalion, Associated Volunteer Training Corps – he was a Sub-Commandant in this home defence organisation
Frank was buried at Deansgrange,Blackrock, Co. Dublin the largest cemetery in south Co. Dublin Upon the outbreak of World War 1 Francis Henry Browning of the Irish Rugby Football Union founded a volunteer corps to recruit men for the army. He was too old to serve at the front himself. Ironically, he was shot on the streets of his native Dublin during Easter Week 1916, while leading a group of his men back from a training march. A headstone was erected by the Irish Rugby Football Union Volunteer Corps in memory of "an honourable comrade and true and distinguished sportsman."
IRISH RUGBY AND THE 1916 EASTER UPRISING http://ourhistory-hayes.blogspot.com/2009/08/irish-rugby-dont-mention-1916-uprising.html
