Major Samuel.J.Browne.VC.
2nd Punjabi Irregular Cavalry.
Lost left arm in combat.
1861...A belt developed for his personal use...
The original displayed in the India Room..
Royal Military Academy.Sandhurst.

The Sam Browne Belt...


Growing up was aye, sae very hard
for a’ us mill-toon lads
the war had lately ended
wi’ the return o’ oor sojer dads,
creating mony problems
that sometymes were painfully felt
and nane as much as upon your arse
frae the strappin’ o’ a Sam Browne belt.

Noo, in oor street there lived my pal
a lad ca’d Hamish Yuille,
a wee an’ curly heided tyke
an’ cheerie as a rule,
but fate was fickle tae him
he wad oft tymes display a welt
when his red-haired Da, lashed upon his arse
the stroke o’ a Sam Browne belt.

Noo, his Celtic Da was a pugilist
an’ nane wad meet his ee’
an’ he ruled that family wi’ an’ iron fist
or so it appeared tae me,
as my growing years were passing
o’ his beatings I was oft tymes telt
an’ I saw the livid streaks o’ pain
caused by that Sam Browne belt.

Poor Hamish was a fragile lad
nae mair could he dance tae the tune
so he hanged himsel’ frae a backyaird tree
in the glow o’ a wynters mune.
Noo the faither he repented
tae the pawn he gaed and selt
the object o’ my hatred
that bluidy Sam Browne belt.

But I put my curse upon Celtic Jock
an’ I bought what he had sold,
the years went by, I grew tall an’ strong
mouthy, tough and bold
an’ the hate I felt, it festered
for the lyfe o’ that red haired Celt
an’ I wad revenge my dear deid freend
wi’ the help o’ a Sam Browne belt.

He niver did ken what hit him
my fist cam’ oot frae the dark
an’ I felt it crush his snorting bane
‘twas there I left my mark
an’ I beat that fallen bastard
many scars his corpse I dealt
wi’ the help o’ a shiny brassy buckle
frae his ain auld Sam Browne belt.

Graham...2003.