Name
Herbert Edward Brandon
15 December 1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/08/1915
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Stoker 2nd Class
SS/116773
Royal Navy
H.M.S. "Lilac"
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
Panel 12
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Hitchin British Boys' School, Hitchin
Pre War
Son of Frederick and Sarah Emily Brandon (née West), of 57, Bunyan Rd., Hitchin, Herts.
Herbert was born on 15 December 1896 in Hitchin 15 December 1896. His parents were Frederick and Sarah Emily Brandon, they were married in 1892
In 1901 the family were living in Priory Gate, Hitchin. Frederick (32) was a gardener domestic and his wife Sarah E was (35). The children were: George William (7), Frank Frederick (6). Herbert Edward (4) and Annie E (1).
Herbert attended Hitchin British School from May 1904.
Records suggest that Frederick died in the second quarter of 1910 and by 1911, the family was split up; Sarah (later recorded as just Emily) was in the Hitchin Union Workhouse, Union Workhouse, Hitchin. The census recorded that she had been married for 18 years and had 7 children, of whom 2 had died and she was recorded as a general domestic servant. Her two eldest sons, George and Frank were boarding with the Day family at 57 Bunyan Road, Hitchin, working as a domestic gardener and an engineer’s fitter respectively. The youngest sibling, Annie, along with many other female children was described as an inmate (school) at 28, 30, 32 Ridge Road, Letchworth, which appears to be associated with the workhouse in Hitchin. Frederick has not yet been found. Presumably he was living with relatives of in a similar institution for young boys.
After his death, his mother’s address was recorded as 57 Bunyan Road, Hitchin c/o his brother George, whether that meant she was boarding there too, or living somewhere else is not known.
Before the war Herbert was working as a shoemakers apprentice and joined the Navy from Tring. So was presumably living there
Wartime Service
He enlisted on 9 February 1915, he was 5’ 2 ½” with brown eyes and hair, with a fair complexion. He must have been of slight build as his chest measurement was 33 ½”. He went for training on the Pembroke II from 9 February 1915 to 13 June 1915 and served on the H.M.S Lilac from 14 June 1915 until his death 18 August 1915.
He was a 2nd Class Stoker on H.M.S. ‘Lilac’ and had the Service Number SS/116773. He died in a mine explosion in the North Sea although his ship was not sunk.
H.M.S. Lilac was one of twenty-four Acacia Class sweeping sloops completed for the Royal Navy.
Lilac was damaged by a mine laid by the German minelayer (raider) Meteor on the night of August 7/8, 1915. Five other ships were lost in Meteor's minefields in August, plus an additional minesweeping sloop was damaged in September.
Herbert was recorded as missing after explosion.
A newspaper dated 3 September 1915 reported that his mother received a letter from the Admiralty. It stat stating her son, Herbert Edward Brandon, Stoker on one of H. Enfield stop ships, was reported to be missing. The vessel was damaged by an explosion owing to its striking a mindful stop the letter continued “In these circumstances it is feared that he must have been regarded as having lost his life.”
He has no known grave, but is remembered on Panel 12 of the Chatham Memorial to the Missing.
Additional Information
Herbert had a brother (probably Frank) serving in the Beds Regiment in France.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
