Private 253185, 1st/7th Battalion, Princess Louise's (Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders). Died of wounds 27th May 1918 in France & Flanders. Age 31. Born Mersesa, enlisted Southend, resident Rochford. Son of George and Catherine Brand, of West Mersea, Essex; husband of Alice Dora Rice Brand, of Waterside Cottage, Paglesham, Rochford, Essex. Buried in NIEDERZWEHREN CEMETERY, Kassel, Hessen, Germany. Grave IV. G. 18.

From "The Southend & District Roll of Honour 1914 - 1921" by Jeffrey Jervis

BRAND, Christopher Pullen - 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

Private Brand was born at Mersea, Essex and lived at Paglesham, enlisting in Southend in May 1916. He was wounded and taken prisoner in France, later dying of his wounds at Ohrdruf War Hospital, Germany on 27th May 1918, aged 31.

History

Age 31 Recruitment Office: Southend

Service Number 253185 formerly 6393 & G/29880 died of wounds 27 - 5 - 18 in Germany

Buried Niederzwehren cemetery, near Kassel, Northern Germany

Christopher Pullen Brand was born 18th July 1887, the son of George and Katherine Brand who lived at York Cottage, West Mersea. He was one of four sons and he had five sisters.

It is thought that he attended the school at West Mersea. The family and west mersea island had connections with Paglesham both being oyster producing areas. It was here that he met his wife, Alice Dora Popplewell and they were married on 24th July, 1910 at Paglesham parish church. They made there home in Waterside Cottage, Paglesham, where he worked as an Oyster Dredgerman. There only son, George was born on 2nd December 1910.

On 9th December 1915, he enlisted at Southend, joining the Middlesex Regiment on a short service engagement. The next day he was released to the reserve and returned home. He was not mobilised until 31st May 1916, when he joined the 6th battalion Middlesex Regiment on 2nd June 1916. After spending a short time with the battalion, he was transferred to the 2/6th battalion, Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders on 22nd June 1916. After a period of training, he embarked for France from Folkestone on 15th March 1917, landing at Boulogne. From here he was posted to the 19th Infantry base depot at Etaples, where he stayed until 30th April, 1917, when after further training he was posted to the 1/7th battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.

The battalion saw action in the Plouvain - Fampoux area, south of Arras, throughout May and on 28th May he was admitted to the 1/2nd Field Ambulance unit with shell shock, from which he recovered by 9th July, when he was posted to the Officer Command battalion of the 1/7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.

On 15th July 1917, the battalion were in the Ypres sector, near the canal, when private Brand was wounded and admitted to No 47 Casualty Clearing Station. Having recovered from his wounds he returned to his battalion, bit on 4th August, he reported sick and was admitted to No 62 Casualty station, from where he was sent to the 6th General Hospital at Rouen, and then on to No 2 Convalescence Depot, but returned to the 6th General Hospital with tonsillitis on 12th December 1917.

On 17th January 1918 he was posted to the Scottish Base Depot at Calais before rejoining the battalion a week later. A period of leave followed from the 10th February to 24th February.

On 21st March 1918 he was with his battalion when it took the full brunt of the German offensive. Private Christopher Pullen Brand was wounded during the fighting on 23rd March while in "D" Company. Because of the confused situation, arrangements for the evacuation of the wounded were in disarray. It was reported that 90% of the battalions wounded had to be left behind and were taken prisoner by the Germans, including Private Brand.

He was takento the Langenslza Prisoner of war camp at Thuringen in Germany, and was subsequently transferred to Lazarett Camp at Ohrdruf, near Kassel in northern Germany.

Condition in the camps were not ideal and he died from blood poisoning as a result of gunshot wounds at 12.30 am on the 27th May 1918.

He is buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, near Kassel and is commemorated on the West Mersea War Memorial and on the Paglesham War Memorial in the parish church.

Details to follow

Southend Standard 3-1-1918

CLARKE, Walter Joseph - Private, No 14049, 11th Essex Regiment

Private Clarke was born at Maryland and was the only son of Mr & Mrs William Clarke of Church End, Paglesham where he was employed by Mr.Meeson. He enlisted at Southend one month after the outbreak, going to France one year later. He was killed in action on 20th November 1917, aged 21, and was buried at Ginchy, north of Longueval.

Details to follow

Southend Standard 6-9-1917

KEEBLE, Stanley Ralph - Gunner, No 122783, 153rd Brigade R.F.A.

Gunner Keeble lived at East End, Paglesham and enlisted in August 1916. He died at the 32nd Casualty Clearing Station on 17th August 1917 of wounds received at Ypres. He was 20 years old and was buried at Brandhoek Cemetery, Ypres Road

Details to follow

Southend Standard 25-7-1918

KEMP, Harry William - Private, No 18415, 3rd Coldstream Guards

Private Kemp lived with his wife and one son at Chase Cottage, Paglesham and was employed as a head gardener. He joined up at Addlestone in May 1916, and was killed in action in France on 13th April 1918. His brother was serving with the East Surreys in Mesopotamia.

Details to follow

Southend Standard

LAPWOOD, Arthur

Private, No G/14211, 6th Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment

Private Lapwood was the son of Mr & Mrs Lapwood of East End, Paglesham. He was single and was employed by Mr.Henry Meeson, farmer. He enlisted on 26th April 1916 and was sent to France in October 1916. He was killed instantly at his post on 10th May 1917 near Arras, aged 21. A letter from Private Alway read: " I am sorry to inform you of your sons death. He was killed at his post while doing his duty. He was one of the finest chaps you could ever have met.He was liked by everybody, officers and men. I think if he had lived throughout this advance he would have got recommended for his bravery. Well, I hope God we shall meet him in a far better land, as he died a soldiers death and was buried in a soldiers grave. I trust that God may give you strength to lean on him, knowing that he gave his life for his countries cause."

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

Details to follow

Southend Standard 12-4-1917

SHARPE, Herbert - Private, No T.F./203483. 7th Middlesex Regiment

Born at North Fambridge, Private Sharpe lived at Paglesham, and was employed as head gardener to Mr.H. Meeson until his enlistment at Luton in May 1916. He died from Bronchitis on 21st March 1917 in a general hospital in France, and was buried at Etaples. He was 31 years old, and left a widow and child.

Details to follow

Southend Standard 30-8-1917

SHUTTLEWOOD, Arthur James - Private, No 14043, 2nd Essex Regiment

Private Shuttlewood was the son of Mr & Mrs Shuttlewood of East End, Paglesham, and was born at Greenwich. He was unmarried and was employed on Mr. Masons farm at Paglesham. He enlisted at Southend at the outbreak, and fought in the First Battle of Loos where he was wounded.Brought home, he underwent two operations before returning to France in May 1917. He was killed by a trench mortar bomb on 10th (8th) August 1917 aged 22, and was buried at a British cemetery east of Arras. The Rev. S.Taylor, C.F. wrote: "Your son of this Battalion was killed by a trench mortar bomb yesterday. He died instantaneously. No words of mine can be of much comfort in such trouble as yours, but I pray that God, when you ask him, may give you all the strength you need to bear it. Our pride will always be yours all your life that your gallant boy died as he did doing his own gallant share in the task we have in hand. Both officers and men ask me to give you their sympathy in your loss. I am glad to be able to tell you that his body was brought back to a little cemetery in a ruined village some way behind the line and there I gave him a Christian burial today."

See above

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

See above

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

See above

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

See above

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

See above

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

See above

See above

See above

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

See above

See above

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently

No further information currently