Lance Corporal James Thomas Brandon

James Thomas Brandon was born in Queensland on 25 July 1892 to Thomas and Mary née Anger. He was one of eight siblings; Jane Elizabeth (1888), Leslie (1890), Frederick Christoph (1894), Ernest Benjamin (1902), Hugh Earle (1906) and Alice Hilda (1909). He was nearly 23 years old when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 10 July 1915 and recorded this as his actual age. At the time of enlistment he gave his occupation as farmer. Brandon embarked with the 8th reinforcements of the 15th Battalion at Brisbane aboard HMAT Kyarra on 16 August 1915. His brother, Frederick, enlisted about 3 months later on 19 November 1915 and joined the 25th Battalion.

From Lemnos, Brandon joined the 15th battalion on Gallipoli, on 23 October 1915 and returned to Alexandria on 25 December 1915. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 23 October 1916. His younger brother, Frederick, was killed at Flers on the Somme, France on 5 November 1916 at the age of 22 years and 4 months.

Brandon was attached to the 26th Company, Australian Service Corps, between 23 September 1918 to 7 October 1918. After this, he returned to the 15th Battalion. While he was on active service, he was also a member of the 15th Battalion Band and played the cornet.

He returned to Australia aboard Beltana on 2 June 1919 and married Marion Louise Frazer in Queensland on 9 August 1922. Their son, Glen, was born in 1928. Brandon enlisted in the Australian Army on 9 April 1942 and served with 2 Battalion Volunteer Service Defence Corps during the Second World War. He was discharged on 21 October 1945.

James Thomas Brandon died in Queensland on 10 November 1982