Francis Browne, SJ, class '97

IT was with regret that we learned of the death of the Rev. Francis Browne, S.J.

After his early education in Belvedere College he came to Castleknock where he spent four years (1893-97). When he had completed his secondary education he joined the Society of Jesus and in 1915 he was ordained by his uncle the Most Reverend Dr. Browne, Bishop of Cloyne.

His first appointment was as Chaplain to the Irish Guards then on active service. Here his courage and devotion to duty gained for him many distinctions ; he was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre (First Class) with palms and on two occasions the Military Cross with Bar.

On his return to Ireland, after two years teaching in Belvedere College, he was appointed Superior of St. Francis Xavier's, Gardiner Street. On completion of six years in this office, he was attached to the Missionary Staff of the Irish Province and from 1928 to 1955 gave Missions and Retreats throughout Ireland and England.

From his school days Fr. Browne was an enthusiastic photographer. He gave many lectures illustrated with his own slides. In 1912 he travelled on the Titanic from Southampton to Cherbourg and Cobh. His photographs of this ill-fated maiden voyage are said to be the only ones which survived. In more recent years his photographs of the great houses of Ireland were used to illustrate the Irish Tatler and Sketch.

Requiescat in Pace.