Current Information:

Age-32

Born-Brompton

Bailleul Communal Cemetery, France

The 9th London battalion, arrived in France on 5th November 1914 and joined 13 Brigade, 5th Division. On 30th December they went into the front line trenches at Wulverghem, just south of Messines where the trenches were close to the River Douvre and consequently often flooded, up to the men’s waists in places. They were relieved on 4th January and moved back to Neuve Eglise. But even here they were not safe.  Around midday on 5th January, the enemy shelled the town and one large shell fell in the street just outside their HQ killing seven men and wounding a further fifteen.  Thomas Brand died of wounds on this day and is buried further back in Bailleul, so he may have been wounded on an earlier date.