25th County of London Cyclist Battalion
The London Regiment


Arthur BRAND


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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