Name
William James Brandon
21/04/1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/03/1918
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
25879
Royal Warwickshire Regiment
10th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DOULLENS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION NO.1
Plot V, Row B, Grave 56.
France
Headstone Inscription
"GOD GRANT WE MAY ALL MEET TOGETHER WHERE WE SHALL PART NO MORE"
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey,
Not in the Bushey memorials
Pre War
William James Brandon was born in Bushey, Herts on 21st April 1889, son of Mark Brandon a Stationary Engine Stoker and Fanny Brandon, (nee Jordan).
His parents married 30 April 1887 at Emmanual Church, Streatham Common, London. Mark died 1920 in Watford aged 62, and was buried 4 October at St James’, Bushey, Herts. Fanny possibly remarried 1928 in the Watford district to John H Atkins.
William was the eldest of 6 children one died in infancy. He was Baptised on 31st May 1889 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey. At the time the family were living at 6 Caple Road, Bushey, Herts.
1891 Census records William aged 2, living with his parents and 1-month old brother Mark at their widowed grandfather, James Brandon’s home, at 6 Capell Road, Bushey, Herts.
1901 Census records William aged 11, living with his parents, brother Mark 10, sisters Elizabeth 8, Eleanor 6, and Fanny 3, at 30 Pinner Road, New Bushey, Herts.
In September 1908 William enlisted in Watford in the Royal Field Artillery Territorial Force, Hertfordshire Battery with the service No. 173. His service record shows he enlisted for four years, his age given was 19 years and 5 months, 5’5″ tall and his occupation an apprentice moulder and employed by Mr Rodgers of New Bushey. It also records he attended the two-week training camps in July 1909 to 1912. He was discharged in September 1912 on completion of his 4 years’ service.
In 1911 William was working in Bedford as a iron moulder and boarding with Mrs Mary Casselton of 41 Westbourne Road, Queens Park, Bedford, Beds.
William Married Annie Victoria Kilby in 1913. The marriage was registered in Watford, Herts. They went on to have one child Eileen Brandon born in 1916.
Wartime Service
He re-enlisted in Watford, and was formerly Private 25879 Royal Army Service Corps. It is believed he spent a short time in the Royal Army Service Corps, then transferred to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment with the Service No. 25879. William was wounded on the 22nd March 1918 and admitted to No. 3. Casualty Clearing Station where he died of his wounds the following day, 23rd March 1918. He is buried in the Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No. 1. in France.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals
He is commemorated on the memorial at St Matthew’s Church, Oxhey.
Additional Information
There is an article about and a Death announcement for William in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 30 March 1918; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 22 March 1919.
The value of his effects were £10-16s-11d, Pay Owing and £6-10s-0d, War Gratuity which went to his widow Annie. Son of Mr. and Mrs. M. Brandon, of Watford; husband of Mrs. W. J. Brandon, of 30, Pinner Rd., Oxhey, nr. Watford, Herts.
His mother, Mrs. W. J. Brandon of 30 Pinner Road, Oxhey, Nr Watford, Herts. ordered his headstone inscription: "GOD GRANT WE MAY ALL MEET TOGETHER WHERE WE SHALL PART NO MORE"
Unfortunately, William’s W.W.1 Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
