b. 1878 Islington, London. d. 3rd Quarter 1932 Islington, London.
DATE OF EM ACTION: 23/06/1911 Luton, Bedfordshire.
William was born in Islington in 1878, the son of William and Louisa Brandon. He was their only son of four children. On 1st June 1903, he married Laura Maude Thomas at St Andrews, Barnsbury. By the time of his EM action in 1911, he was living with Laura at 122 Castle Street, Luton, with their seven sons. He died in Islington, London in 1932, aged 54.
EM CITATION:
On the 23rd June, 1911, Alfred Butterfield, a workman employed by the Luton Corporation, descended a sump hole at the Luton Sewage Farm, and was overcome by foul gas which had accumulated there. William Brandon immediately went to his rescue and descended the hole, but was overcome by the gas. In spite of the serious danger disclosed by the previous attempt at rescue, Herbert Carter decided to make the descent, and, placing a handkerchief over his mouth, was lowered by two ropes into the hole. There he found that Butterfield was dead and Brandon was unconscious. He placed a rope round Brandon, and they were both drawn to the surface. Carter then descended again, and attached a rope to the body of Butterfield.
BURIAL LOCATION: ST MARY’S CHURCHYARD, ISLINGTON, LONDON.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: PRIVATELY OWNED. SOLD AT BONHAMS IN 2007 FOR £2,585.