Brandon, Charles
No.4448 – Private Charles Brandon – 11th Battalion AIF
Charles Brandon was born in Fremantle WA in 1897 to Charles and Mary Brandon of Forest Street East Fremantle. 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 6th 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 14th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF. This group would train in WA till the 12th 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 10th March 1916. After arriving in Marseilles on the 4th April 1916 they were sent up to Etaples on the Northern French coast to spend time training at the 1st Australian Division Base Depot. While stationed here Charlie developed influenza and on the 23rd April 1916 was admitted to the 29th General Hospital. His condition slowly improved and when fit enough he rejoined the 1st Division Base Depot on the 20th May 1916. On the 8th June 1916 he was struck off strength of the Base Depot and joined the 11th Battalion in the field near Armentieres on the 12th June 1916.
In July the 11th Battalion were sent down to the Somme battlefield where they took part in the capture of Pozieres. The 11th Battalion had large casualties during their first time in the line at Pozieres from July 21-27, however Charlie got through unscathed. After the 1st Division was relieved from the battle, they were replaced by the 2nd Division who in turn were replaced by the 4th Division. When the time came to relieve the 4th Division, the 1st Division came back into the line. Around the 20th 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 11th Battalion, though he was soon away again as on 3rd 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 11th on the 16th October 1916. Charlie must not have been fully fit as on the 9th 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 11th November 1916 he was sent back to No.1 General Hospital at Etretat. On the 19th November Charlie was sent once again to the 1st Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples and rejoined the battalion on the 6th December 1916.
The 11th 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 27th February 1917 during operations Charles was killed. Unfortunately no eyewitness records seem to exist but several 11th 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.



