1321 RSM Stephen Brand MM and bar, MiD
9th Battalion, AIF
by Robert Simpson
Stephen Brand was born in Stockton – on – Tees in Durham County in July 1890, the second of five children to William and Rosie Brand. William was an owner of a Refreshment House according to the 1901 census. Stephen was still living with them in the 1891 and 1901 census. On his service record, it stated he was an Apprentice Draper at Evans & Co. for 7 years and he had completed his time. He does not appear in the 1911 census so he must have migrated before this. It would appear his Father died in 1910, so this may have been the cause. He must have travelled to somewhere else first as there is no person named Brand leaving England for Australia between 1901 and 1911. Apart from his Attestation Form, the first sign of him in Australia is on the 1915 Electoral Roll in the District of Normanby, Rockhampton Division where he is listed as being at 48-mile Camp, North Coast Railway, labourer and the record was dated as being received on 25th January 1915.
However, he enlisted in Rockhampton on 21st December 1914 as 1321 Private Stephen Brand, 2nd Reinforcements, 9th Infantry Battalion. It was among the first infantry units raised for the AIF and recruited in Queensland. He listed his Mother, Rosannah Brand, Waverly Hotel, then 122 High St, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, England as his next of kin. He was single and had no previous military experience. He gave his age as 24and a half years, 5 foot 10.5 inches tall, weight of 158 pounds, chest measurement of 33.5 to 37.5 inches, fresh complexion, hazel eyes, reddish golden hair, his religious denomination as Presbyterian and he had 3 vaccination marks on his left arm. He was appointed to the 2nd reinforcements 9th Infantry Battalion at Enoggera on 8th February 1915.
He embarked from Brisbane Australia on 13th February 1915 on HMAT Seang Bee A48, and joined his unit at ANZAC on 7th May 1915. On 11th May 1915 he was wounded (bullet wound in upper arm) and was transferred from 1st ACCS to the Hospital Ship. A record of his wounding appears in The Queenslander on Saturday 3rd July 1915 as Pte. S Brand, 9th Btn. (2nd Rfts.) England. There is also a record of a shrapnel wound to the scalp on 11th June 1915. He rejoined his unit at Gabe Tepe on 13th June 1915. He was promoted to Temporary Corporal on 4th September at ANZAC and promoted to Lance Corporal, but the promotion was cancelled on his evacuation on 13th September for a “Not Yet Determined Pyrexia” when he was admitted to “Nevasa”. On the 19th he was admitted to the 2nd AGH and was discharged to Base Details at Cairo on the 18th November. He was admitted to the 3rd Australian Hospital with diarrhoea on the 29th and rejoined unit at Tel-el-Kebir on the 8th January 1916 as Gallipoli had been withdrawn. He was appointed a Temporary Corporal on 29th February 1916 and appointed Lance Sergeant on 24th March. He proceeded to join BEF at Alexandria on 27th March on Saxonia and disembarked at Marseilles on 3rd April 1916.
His temporary rank of Corporal was approved in the field on 17th April and he was promoted to Sergeant in France on 14th July. He was sent to hospital as sick on 9th January 1917 and sent to Rouen as Not Yet Diagnosed on the 11th. He was diagnosed with Venereal Disease (Gonorrhoea) and transferred to No. 51 General Hospital on the 13th and admitted there at Etaples on the14th. He spent quite a while there (total period of 33 days) and he must have got bored as on 27th February he committed a crime; breaking out of hospital for which the award was to be severely reprimanded by the C.O. of the 51st General Hospital on the 1st March. He was discharged to base details, 1st ADBD on 20th March and proceeded to unit on 31st and joined the Battalion on 1st April. On 13th May 1917 he was promoted to Temporary CSM and WO (Class 2) (as Williams was evacuated).
On the 15th May 1917 he was awarded the Military Medal. The London Gazette Supplement of 17th July listed 1321 CSM (Temp) S Brand, 9th Btn. as being awarded the Military Medal and this was promulgated in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 189 on 8th November 1917. The award states “at Bullecourt, France on the night of 6/7 May 1917, Sgt. Brand during a successful bombing attack on the Hindenburg Line showed great initiative and devotion to duty. He was in charge of the Company Ammunition Dump, and during the attack organised parties, and kept all posts well supplied. At one time a shell set fire to his dump, and by his gallant and quick action in putting out the fire he saved a large quantity of ammunition”. A letter was sent to his Mother stating this and at the time they were living at Waverley Hotel, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham. On 11th August, he was promoted to CSM (WO Class 2) (as Brown was wounded). He was sent on leave on 7th December 1917 to the UK and rejoined the battalion on 22nd December 1917. On 31st December, he was wounded accidently; a gunshot wound to the hand, and was admitted to the 1st ADRS in the field on 1st January 1918. A notice was published in The Queenslander on Saturday 9th February 1918 stating T.-C.S.M. Stephen Brand, England (2nd occ.). He was discharged to unit and rejoined the Battalion on the 7th. On 8th March 1918, he was specially mentioned in Douglas Haig’s Despatch for gallant and distinguished service in the field. It also states “I have it in command from the King to record His Majesty’s high appreciation of the services rendered”. It is signed Winston Churchill, Secretary of State for War.
On the 5th May 1918 a Field General Court Marshal was held. His crime was when on active service, drunkenness and the finding was guilty. For his sentence, he was reduced to the Ranks from CSM and this was confirmed by G.O.C. 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade. He was in confinement awaiting trial from 13th April to 4th May and had a total forfeiture of 23 days pay. For the trial, he pleaded not guilty. Two witnesses, Major H James M.C. and Lieutenant H. N. Knowles stated at St. Roch Station Amiens in the morning, Brand was staggering backwards and forwards. He was drunk and not in a fit condition to carry out his duties. Brand stated that the Battalion arrived at the station at 9.20 a.m. He then lay down and went to sleep. He was awoken by his Company Commander at 10.15 a.m. who informed him he was under arrest. In defence, Lieutenant T. A. L. Gower stated he found him an excellent soldier and most conscientious as regards to his duties.
On 5th June 1918, he was promoted to Corporal and he was sent to XV Expo School for 1 day on the 22nd. He was promoted to Sergeant (Sutton KIA) on the 1st July and on 11th August he was promoted to CSM WO Class 2 (Todd DOW). The battalion participated in the great allied offensive of 1918 and fought near Amiens in 8th August. On 14th September, he was promoted to T/CSM (Temp WO Class 1). From 5th to 30th October he was at 4th Army School and on 14th December he was promoted to RSM (WO Class 1). On 9th January 1919, he was sent on leave to the UK and he was there from 12th to 26th January. He rejoined his unit in the UK on 28th. On 13th March 1919, he was awarded a Bar to his Military Medal. The entry states “at BOIS CHREPY on 10th August 1918 when all the Officers of his Company had become casualties he assumed command. When the advance was temporary checked in the Wood this N.C.O. led his Company to the attack with great ability and fearlessness. He kept Battalion Headquarters well informed with the different phases of the operation and personally patrolled his Company front. During the enemy counter attack at 7 a.m. on the morning of the 11th instant this N.C.O. summed up the situation with remarkable smartness and ability and employed his Company to the best advantage. By the tactical handling and dogged perseverance of this N.C.O. the enemy was engaged at close quarters and his efforts of attack were frustrated” On 22nd May he was marched out for return to Australia, going to England on 28th May and boarding the troopship Takada on the 29th. He returned to Australia and disembarked on 7th September 1919.
A change of address for his parents was noted on 23rd January 1918 to Rosannah Brand, 122 High St. Stockton-on-Tees Durham England. His Mother was sent a letter detailing the Supplement to the London Gazette of 28th May 1918 that he had a Mention in Despatches in Sir Douglas Haig’s dispatch of 7th April 1918 and this was promulgated in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 165 on 24th October 1918. The Mention was for the period 22nd September 1917 to 24th February 1918. On 22nd July 1919, a letter was sent to his Mother re the award of a Bar to his Military Medal which was promulgated in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 75 on 17th June 1919.
He did not live in Australia for too much longer. He signed for his MID and 2 emblems on 11th April 1920 and a letter also notes his change of address to Hangatiki, Kings Country, New Zealand so he must have migrated there beforehand. It is also referred to in another letter dated 27th April 1920 about his 1914-15 star. He requests his British War and Victory Medals on December 1922. He asks for a duplicate set of MID emblems in 21st October 1937 and again on 2nd August 1939 to the Defence Department in Melbourne from Totara Flats, Reefton Line New Zealand and also asks what was the correct length to mount his medals on a bar. The reply gave him the price of replacement MID leaves and the length depends on the length of the longest ribbon with the bar attached. On 3rd September 1942 asks for a Silver Rosette to denote a bar to his Military Medal but there is no stock so he is advised that it will be sent in the future.
He moved around a bit in New Zealand, between 1928 and 1938 electoral rolls he lived at the City Hotel Ross, and Totara Flat on the West Coast. Between 1946 and 1954 rolls he was at Amberley, Canterbury and he was a sawmill worker at all those places. 1957 finds him at Whakatu, Hawk’s Bay as a freezing worker and in 1963 he has moved to Carlyle St. Napier and is retired. It would appear he never married. He passed away on Friday 10th July 1964 in Napier and is buried in Wharerangi Cemetery in Section 15 Plot 5. He was buried there by Nicholson & Son Ltd on Monday 13th July 1964.
On 29th March 1965, a letter from New Zealand High Commissioner in Canberra stating he died in Napier NZ 10th July 1964 intestate and as there was no NOK, his medals and decorations were sent to the Army Headquarters and were forwarded to the Army Department at Canberra for safe keeping. Another letter says they will be held at Central Army Records Office with his service documents.
The items that were returned from New Zealand and placed in stock were:-
1914-15 Star No. 872
British War Medal No. 8679
Victory Medal No. 8479
2x Oak Leaves (MID)
Military Medal and Bar
AIF badge
MID Certificate
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women
whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection belonging to the
Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,
Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.