Browne was born on 8 December 1907 in New Cross London. His father was the local post office clerk and Baptist church secretary. Browne attended Brockley Central School where he excelled and won many awards highlighting his academic achievements; however, he dropped at age 15 in order earn his living working as clerk at the Deptford Town Hall. He took evening classes in order to pass matriculation. He then attended King's College London with scholarships for both his studies of medicine as well as theology. As a student at King's College, he received awards for his academic achievements such as the Barry, Leathes and Warneford prizes, the Warneford Gold Metal, the Jeff Medal, and later: distinctions in surgery, forensic medicine, and hygiene. He received the Murchison Scholarship for most outstanding medical graduate. After graduating with high medical honors, he went to Antwerp for another year of study to obtain a diploma in tropical medicine. During this time, he also became fluent in French. He became a member of the Royal College of Physicians in 1934 and the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1935.
