William Brandt

Alias served as Brant

Born 3.10.1894    Place Arensburg (Kuressaare), Oesel (Saaremaa), Estonia    Ethnic origin Estonian    Religion Lutheran

Father Brandt, Michal      Mother Brant, Mary

Residence before arrival at Australia After Estonia lived in England, 1910-1912

Arrived at Australia

Residence before enlistment Richmond, Victoria

Occupation 1916 sailor, 1938 AB seaman

Service

service number 6216   enlisted 27.04.1916   POE Warragul, Vic

unit 5th Battalion   rank Private

place Western Front, 1916-1918      casualties WIA 1917 (twice)

final fate RTA 10.07.1919       discharged 20.10.1919

Naturalisation 1940

Residence after the war Richmond, Victoria

Materials naturalisation (NAA) (Brant W.)

digitised service records (NAA) (Brant)

court martial records (NAA) (Brandt)

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

[...] the Estonian William Brant (Brandt), from the 5th Battalion, was sentenced to five years’ penal servitude for desertion in the field. A former sailor, Brant had been twice wounded, and at his trial he [...] stated that the Russian consul had pressured him to join the army, and ‘now that Russia has signed peace I want my discharge’. His plea was unsympathetically received and his battalion commander, in comments attached to the court materials sent to headquarters for confirmation, said: ‘In case of Brandt … I beg to recommend that the sentence of 5 years P.S. be put into execution. This man made application some time ago for his discharge from the Army on the grounds that he was not a naturalised British subject, but a Russian, and as his home is now under German control he wished to do what he could to get in touch with his people.’

Back to home if you do not see frames