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Alfred Brandon (RAF officer)

April 14, 2024

Alfred de Bathe (Bath) Brandon DSO MC (21 July 1883 – 19 June 1974) was a New Zealand lawyer and military aviator who served in the First World War, and was credited with the destruction of two Zeppelin airships.

Alfred de Bathe Brandon
Born(1883-06-21)21 June 1883
Wellington, New Zealand
Died19 June 1974(1974-06-19) (aged 90)
Upper Hutt, New Zealand
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force
Years of service1915–1919
RankMajor
UnitNo. 19 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron RFC
No. 39 (Home Defence) Squadron RFC
Commands heldNo. 50 Squadron
Battles/warsWorld War I
AwardsDistinguished Service Order
Military Cross
Other workLawyer

Biography edit

Brandon was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on 21 July 1883. He was the son of the Mayor of Wellington, Alfred Brandon and Louisa Kebbell.[1] He was the grandson of the Member of the House of Representatives (MHR), also called Alfred Brandon.[1] He was educated at Wellington College and Canterbury College, Christchurch, before going to England to study law at Trinity College, Cambridge.[2]

Brandon was practising law for his father's company 'Brandon, Hislop and Johnston' in Wellington when the war broke out in August 1914. He gave up his job and resigned his commission in the 5th (Wellington) Regiment in order to travel to England,[3] where he learned to fly at the Hall Flying School at Hendon at his own expense, gaining Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 1905 on 17 October 1915.[1][4] He joined the Royal Flying Corps, receiving a commission as a probationary second lieutenant on 8 December 1915,[5] which was confirmed on 8 March 1916.[6]

On 1 April 1916, flying a B.E.2e fighter of No. 19 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron, he succeeded in attacking Zeppelin L 15 using Ranken darts.[7] It subsequently came down in the sea, and although the airship had already been damaged by anti-aircraft fire, his efforts won him the Military Cross.[8][9] It was the first Zeppelin brought down over England.[1]

On the night of 23 September 1916 flying a B.E.2e fighter he attacked Zeppelin L 33, helping to bring the airship down in a field.[10][1]

On 4 October 1916 he was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, "in recognition of his gallantry and distinguished service in connection with the successful attack on Enemy Airships",[11] following the shooting down of Zeppelin L 33 by No. 39 (Home Defence) Squadron.[12]

During 1917–1918 he was the commanding officer of 50 Squadron,[13] and was promoted to major in January 1918.

Brandon returned to New Zealand in early 1919 and assisted in the preparation of a report on New Zealand air defences, before returning to join his family's law practice, Brandon, Ward, Hislop and Powles.[14]

Personal life edit

Brandon married Ada Mabel Perry at the Cathedral Church of St Paul, Wellington, on 2 January 1942; he was 58, she 38. They had one child, Peter de Bathe Brandon.[1] Alfred Brandon died in Upper Hutt on 19 June 1974, survived by his wife.[1]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Bentley, Geoffrey. "Alfred de Bathe Brandon". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  2. ^ Lam, Nathan (2011). "A. de B. Brandon". sites.google.com. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  3. ^ Bentley, Geoffrey (2014). "Alfred de Bathe Brandon". NZHistory. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Aviators' Certificates". Flight. VII (357): 829. 29 October 1915. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  5. ^ "No. 29456". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 January 1916. p. 1217.
  6. ^ "No. 29500". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 March 1916. p. 2532.
  7. ^ Claasen, pages 180-186.
  8. ^ Cole & Cheesman (1984), page 119
  9. ^ "No. 12939". The Edinburgh Gazette. 18 May 1916. p. 881.
  10. ^ Claasen, pages 220-222.
  11. ^ "No. 29773". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 October 1916. p. 9635.
  12. ^ "Memorial To No. 39 (H.D.) Squadron". Flight. XXIV (1221): 454. 20 May 1932. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  13. ^ Cole & Cheesman (1984), page 169
  14. ^ O'Flynn, Angharad (16 November 2015). "Brandons: 175 years of keeping it in the family". New Zealand Law Society. Retrieved 13 December 2017.

References edit

  • Classen, Adam (2017). Fearless : The Extraordinary Untold Story of New Zealand's Great War Airmen (Hardback). Auckland, New Zealand: Massey University Press. ISBN 9780994140784.
  • Cole, Christopher & Cheesman, E. F. (1984). The Air Defence of Great Britain 1914–1918. London: Putnam. p. 119. ISBN 0-370-30538-8.
  • Crawford, John; McGibbon, Ian (2007). "Orange, Vincent: From Burn to Bannerman: New Zealand airmen come of age". New Zealand's Great War: New Zealand, the Allies, and the First World War (Hardback). Auckland, New Zealand: Exisle Publishing. pp. 333–343. ISBN 9780908988853.

External links edit

  • "The wreckage of a Zeppelin, September 1916". British Army: First World War. 2014.
  • "Photograph of Alfred de Bathe Brandon in early 1916". NZHistory. 2014.

April 14, 2024
alfred, brandon, officer, alfred, bathe, bath, brandon, july, 1883, june, 1974, zealand, lawyer, military, aviator, served, first, world, credited, with, destruction, zeppelin, airships, alfred, bathe, brandonborn, 1883, june, 1883wellington, zealanddied19, ju. Alfred de Bathe Bath Brandon DSO MC 21 July 1883 19 June 1974 was a New Zealand lawyer and military aviator who served in the First World War and was credited with the destruction of two Zeppelin airships Alfred de Bathe BrandonBorn 1883 06 21 21 June 1883Wellington New ZealandDied19 June 1974 1974 06 19 aged 90 Upper Hutt New ZealandAllegianceUnited KingdomService wbr branchRoyal Flying CorpsRoyal Air ForceYears of service1915 1919RankMajorUnitNo 19 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron RFCNo 39 Home Defence Squadron RFCCommands heldNo 50 SquadronBattles warsWorld War IAwardsDistinguished Service OrderMilitary CrossOther workLawyer Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksBiography editBrandon was born in Wellington New Zealand on 21 July 1883 He was the son of the Mayor of Wellington Alfred Brandon and Louisa Kebbell 1 He was the grandson of the Member of the House of Representatives MHR also called Alfred Brandon 1 He was educated at Wellington College and Canterbury College Christchurch before going to England to study law at Trinity College Cambridge 2 Brandon was practising law for his father s company Brandon Hislop and Johnston in Wellington when the war broke out in August 1914 He gave up his job and resigned his commission in the 5th Wellington Regiment in order to travel to England 3 where he learned to fly at the Hall Flying School at Hendon at his own expense gaining Royal Aero Club Aviator s Certificate No 1905 on 17 October 1915 1 4 He joined the Royal Flying Corps receiving a commission as a probationary second lieutenant on 8 December 1915 5 which was confirmed on 8 March 1916 6 On 1 April 1916 flying a B E 2e fighter of No 19 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron he succeeded in attacking Zeppelin L 15 using Ranken darts 7 It subsequently came down in the sea and although the airship had already been damaged by anti aircraft fire his efforts won him the Military Cross 8 9 It was the first Zeppelin brought down over England 1 On the night of 23 September 1916 flying a B E 2e fighter he attacked Zeppelin L 33 helping to bring the airship down in a field 10 1 On 4 October 1916 he was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in recognition of his gallantry and distinguished service in connection with the successful attack on Enemy Airships 11 following the shooting down of Zeppelin L 33 by No 39 Home Defence Squadron 12 During 1917 1918 he was the commanding officer of 50 Squadron 13 and was promoted to major in January 1918 Brandon returned to New Zealand in early 1919 and assisted in the preparation of a report on New Zealand air defences before returning to join his family s law practice Brandon Ward Hislop and Powles 14 Personal life editBrandon married Ada Mabel Perry at the Cathedral Church of St Paul Wellington on 2 January 1942 he was 58 she 38 They had one child Peter de Bathe Brandon 1 Alfred Brandon died in Upper Hutt on 19 June 1974 survived by his wife 1 Notes edit a b c d e f g Bentley Geoffrey Alfred de Bathe Brandon Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Ministry for Culture and Heritage Retrieved 23 April 2017 Lam Nathan 2011 A de B Brandon sites google com Retrieved 18 August 2014 Bentley Geoffrey 2014 Alfred de Bathe Brandon NZHistory Retrieved 18 August 2014 Aviators Certificates Flight VII 357 829 29 October 1915 Retrieved 18 August 2014 No 29456 The London Gazette Supplement 28 January 1916 p 1217 No 29500 The London Gazette Supplement 7 March 1916 p 2532 Claasen pages 180 186 Cole amp Cheesman 1984 page 119 No 12939 The Edinburgh Gazette 18 May 1916 p 881 Claasen pages 220 222 No 29773 The London Gazette Supplement 3 October 1916 p 9635 Memorial To No 39 H D Squadron Flight XXIV 1221 454 20 May 1932 Retrieved 18 August 2014 Cole amp Cheesman 1984 page 169 O Flynn Angharad 16 November 2015 Brandons 175 years of keeping it in the family New Zealand Law Society Retrieved 13 December 2017 References editClassen Adam 2017 Fearless The Extraordinary Untold Story of New Zealand s Great War Airmen Hardback Auckland New Zealand Massey University Press ISBN 9780994140784 Cole Christopher amp Cheesman E F 1984 The Air Defence of Great Britain 1914 1918 London Putnam p 119 ISBN 0 370 30538 8 Crawford John McGibbon Ian 2007 Orange Vincent From Burn to Bannerman New Zealand airmen come of age New Zealand s Great War New Zealand the Allies and the First World War Hardback Auckland New Zealand Exisle Publishing pp 333 343 ISBN 9780908988853 External links edit The wreckage of a Zeppelin September 1916 British Army First World War 2014 Photograph of Alfred de Bathe Brandon in early 1916 NZHistory 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alfred Brandon RAF officer amp oldid 1193578199, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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