Brandon, Charles

No.4448 – Private Charles Brandon – 11^th Battalion AIF

Charles Brandon was born in Fremantle WA in 1897 to Charles and Mary Brandon of 176 Forest Street East Fremantle (later renumbered to 79 Forest). As sister May was born in 1899, Albert in 1900 and Elsie in 1903. He attended East Fremantle State School and after leaving school became a Stove Fitter. He was also a serving member of the Naval Reserve so Charlie had some military experience when he presented himself to authorities to enlist.

As he was only 18 years old he needed the consent of his parents to enlist and this was given by Charles and Mary on the 6^th October 1915.

Charlie was passed as fit by the medical examiner who found him to be 5 feet 7 inches in height; weight of 138 lbs; chest measurement of 34-37 inches; fresh complexion; blue eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He spent the next six weeks at No.33 Depot and in December was then transferred into the 14^th Reinforcements to the 11^th Battalion AIF. This group would train in WA till the 12^th February 1916 when they embarked from Fremantle on the H.M.A.T. “Miltiades”.

After arriving in Egypt they were put into the Infantry Depot and embarked for France on the 10^th March 1916. After arriving in Marseilles on the 4^th April 1916 they were sent up to Etaples on the Northern French coast to spend time training at the 1^st Australian Division Base Depot. While stationed here Charlie developed influenza and on the 23^rd April 1916 was admitted to the 29^th General Hospital. His condition slowly improved and when fit enough he rejoined the 1^st Division Base Depot on the 20^th May 1916. On the 8^th June 1916 he was struck off strength of the Base Depot and joined the 11^th Battalion in the field near Armentieres on the 12^th June 1916.

In July the 11^th Battalion were sent down to the Somme battlefield where they took part in the capture of Pozieres. The 11^th Battalion had large casualties during their first time in the line at Pozieres from July 21-27, however Charlie got through unscathed. After the 1^st Division was relieved from the battle, they were replaced by the 2^nd Division who in turn were replaced by the 4^th Division. When the time came to relieve the 4^th Division, the 1^st Division came back into the line. Around the 20^th August Charlie was wounded near Mouquet Farm and was admitted to hospital with Shell Shock. After a few days rest he was back with the 11^th Battalion, though he was soon away again as on 3^rd September 1916 he was sent to Hospital with Bronchitis. He was sent to recover at No.16 General Hospital at Le Treport on the French coast. He had seemingly recovered and rejoined the 11^th on the 16^th October 1916. Charlie must not have been fully fit as on the 9^th November 1916 he was once again evacuated to hospital, this time with general debility. Evacuated back to No.36 Casualty Clearing Station, and on the 11^th November 1916 he was sent back to No.1 General Hospital at Etretat. On the 19^th November Charlie was sent once again to the 1^st Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples and rejoined the battalion on the 6^th December 1916.

The 11^th Battalion were then in the vicinity of Flers undergoing trench line duty during the coldest French winter for decades so conditions were very wet and muddy. On the 27^th February 1917 during operations Charles was killed. Unfortunately no eyewitness records seem to exist but several 11^th Battalion men were killed at the same time. His body does not seem to have been recovered and so Charlie Brandon is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial France.