Alfred de Bathe Brandon was a New Zealand lawyer and military aviator who served in the First World War, and was credited with the destruction of two Zeppelin airships.
Biography
Brandon was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on 21 July 1883. He was the son of the Mayor of Wellington, Alfred Brandon and Louisa Kebbell. He was the grandson of the Member of the House of Representatives, also called Alfred Brandon. He was educated at Wellington College and Canterbury College, Christchurch, before going to England to study law at Trinity College, Cambridge. Brandon was practising law for his father's company 'Brandon, Hislop and Johnston' in Wellington when the war broke out in August 1914. He gave up his job and resigned his commission in the 5th Regiment in order to travel to England, where he learned to fly at the Hall Flying School at Hendon at his own expense, gaining Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 1905 on 17 October 1915. He joined the Royal Flying Corps, receiving a commission as a probationary second lieutenant on 8 December 1915, which was confirmed on 8 March 1916. On 1 April 1916, flying a B.E.2e fighter of No. 19 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron, he succeeded in attacking Zeppelin L 15 using Ranken darts. It subsequently came down in the sea, and although the airship had already been damaged by anti-aircraft fire, his efforts won him the Military Cross. It was the first Zeppelin brought down over England. On the night of 23 September 1916 flying a B.E.2e fighter he attacked Zeppelin L 33, helping to bring the airship down in a field. On 4 October 1916 he was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, "in recognition of his gallantry and distinguished service in connection with the successful attack on Enemy Airships", following the shooting down of Zeppelin L 33 by No. 39 Squadron. During 1917–1918 he was the commanding officer of 50 Squadron, and was promoted to major in January 1918. Brandon returned to New Zealand in early 1919 and assisted in the preparation of a report on New Zealand air defences, before returning to join his family's law practice, Brandon, Ward, Hislop and Powles.
