Private Laurence Brand

Laurence Brand was born in Hartlepool, on 22 November 1921, and enlisted into the Royal Army Medical Corps on the 11 September 1941. He was working as a Clerk before he joined the Army, but qualified as a Nursing Orderly in his training.

Upon completion of all his training he was posted to No 18 Company, RAMC on the 10th December 1941. He did a short attachment to a Hospital in Watford, from 14 February 1942 until 28 April 1942, when he returned to No 18 Company. However, he was then immediately posted to the 133 Field Ambulance, RAMC, and on the 25 May 1942 he embarked with this unit for overseas service. This turned out to be in the Middle East, where he served in Egypt, at the Battle of El Alamein with the 44 (Home Counties) Division. After this battle the Division was broken up and the 133 Field Ambulance was sent first to Syria and then to Kabrit in the Suez Canal Zone, where it was to be converted to the parachute role.

Private Brand was officially attached to the 4th Parachute Brigade, with the now 133 Parachute Field Ambulance, RAMC on the 18 February 1943, and commenced his parachute course, K24, on the 19 February 1943, carrying out 4 day jumps and 1 night jump to qualify for his parachute wings. The course was completed on 3 March 1943.

Just before the 133 Parachute Field Ambulance, RAMC moved with the 4th Parachute Brigade to Sousse in Tunisia, he was promoted to Lance Corporal, on the 28 June 1943.

He took part in the Italian campaign when the 1st Airborne Division landed at Taranto, as part of ‘Operation Slapstick’ in September 1943.

On 12 November 1943 he was reduced to the rank of Private by the Officer Commanding his unit, for misconduct.

On 21 November 1943 he returned with his unit to the UK and prepared for the invasion of Northern Europe.

On 1 February 1944 he was posted to the 21st Independent Parachute Company.

He married Fay at St Pancras on the 15th May 1944.

On Sunday, 17 September 1944 he took off from RAF Fairford aboard a Short Stirling aircraft of the RAF and parachuted onto a large open field near Heelsum and Renkum in Holland, as part of ‘Operation Market-Garden’ and was the Medical Orderly attached to No 2 Platoon. He fought throughout the following nine days and was recommended for the award of the Military Medal for his actions at Arnhem and the recommendation notes:

‘On 23 September 1944 Pte Brand acting as Medical Orderly went out under intense mortar fire to dress two seriously wounded men. On 24 September 1944 he again went out under concentrated fire to dress a seriously wounded man, During the whole action this medical orderly showed a complete disregard of pesonal danger and worked always under fire. His actions were undoubtedly responsible for saving many lives.’

It does not appear that the recommendation made by Major ‘Boy’ Wilson was endorsed by senior Army commanders, and no evidence of an award has so far been found in the London Gazette.

He successfully withdrew back across the Lower Rhine on the night of the 25/26 September and returned to the United Kingdom on 29 September 1944.

He remained with the Company and took part in Operation ‘DOOMSDAY’, 9 May – 25 August 1945. On 18 October 1945, he was posted back to the 133 Parachute Field Ambulance, RAMC. However the unit was disbanded in November 1945, and he served with various medical units until he was discharged from the Army in January 1947, after which he emigrated to Australia

Lawrence Joseph Brand died on 5 July 2002 in Orange Base Hospital, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.