 In 1916, the 36-year-old Browne was sent to Europe to join the Irish Guards as a chaplain.He served with the Guards until the spring of 1920, including service at the Battle of the Somme and at Locre, Wytschaete, Messines Ridge, Paschendaele, Ypres, Amiens and Arras in Flanders.Browne was wounded five times during the war, once severely in a gas attack.