Cambridge Independent Press – 9 Jun 1916
Walden Soldier’s Death Whilst in charge of the guard on Monday
morning, Cyclist Corporal Arthur Brand, of the London Cyclists, son of
Mrs. Brand, Debden Road, Saffron Walden, was accidentally shot by a
comrade. It appears that he was on duty at nine o’clock. When one of
the guard was patrolling the bridge he heard the report of a rifle, and
on going into the guard house he found Brand lying on the floor in a
pool of blood. A comrade was in the room with him. Dr. Todd and one
of the Army surgeons were sent for, but could do very little, and death
took place a few minutes after the accident. The body was removed to an
adjoining room to await the inquest. The inquest was held on Tuesday,
when the depositions showed that death resulted from a bullet wound,
which entered the top of the right eye and pierced through to the head.
It appears that the comrade was handling a rifle, which was supposed not
to be loaded, and whilst doing so the weapon went off. The comrade was
very much distressed, he being a friend of Corpl. Brand. The jury
returned a verdict of “Accidentally killed” and sympathy was expressed
with the relatives. Corpl. Brand was 25 years of age.
[British Newspaper Archive]
Brand, Arthur - 2/25th London Bn. 1282 - Accidentally shot at
Gillingham 5 Jun 1916 [Army Soldiers'
Effects Records, 1901–60. National Army Museum]
'Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-19' under the heading "25th (County of London) Battalion (Cyclists)" :-
Brand, Arthur, resident Waldon, Essex, enlisted Fulham,
1282, A/Cpl; dies at home, 5 Jun 1916.
In Memory of
Corporal Arthur BRAND
1282, 25th Bn., London Regiment (Cyclists)
who died on 05 June 1916
Husband of Lily Mildred Brand, of 30, Mersea Rd., Colchester.
Remembered with honour Saffron Walden Cemetery. Grave Ref. Compt. 24. Grave 48.
Commemorated in perpetuity by
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
There are 11 Commonwealth burials of the
1914-1918 war and 58 of the Second World War. In 1940 some ground in
Compartments 39, 40 and 41, in the south-eastern corner of the cemetery,
was set aside for service war graves, and this is now the 1939-1945 War
Graves
Plot. All save nine of the graves are in this plot, which is entirely
turfed and is screened on the western side by a box hedge. The Cross of
Sacrifice stands in the foreground, between the graves and the pathway,
and along the rows of headstones are continuous flower borders planted
with polyantha roses and other seasonal flowers. Most of the airmen came
from the Royal Air Force Station at Debden, three miles south of Saffron
Walden.
Saffron Walden is a municipal borough, market
town, and parish on the
East
Anglian
Heights
, 12 miles north of Bishops Stortford. The cemetery is on the
Radwinter Road
.
[Courtesy of
Commonwealth War Graves Commission]
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