Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Completed by Loxton High School

We have received an unofficial report about your brother No. 2453. Pte. L. W. Branford, 27th Battn. A.I.F. who is missing since August 4th……”.

In the midst of the relentless artillery bombardment and chaotic battle, in France, brothers Sydney and Lance stood side by side. They navigated the treacherous and brutal realities of war, fighting for their country as real Australian heroes.

1916 was a year filled with profound sorrow and distress. Sydney and Lance Branford were two brothers, from Semaphore, Adelaide, separated by only three years of age who shared a bond forged in blood and mateship. They enlisted together, fought together, their lives intertwined in the hardship of World War I, only this was short lived.

Lance and Sydney grew up in a family of 9 children, to parents Henrietta Jiggins and Elijah Branford, who was the last Mayor of Semaphore. Elijah was well known in the Port Adelaide area as a boot maker, working for most of his life in this trade. The Branford house was full of love, but could be noisy at times, due to the 11 family members living together. Although Sydney didn’t know it at the time, the loud environment and cramped living conditions would help him prepare for war.

According to Sydney Branford's WW1 AIF enlistment paperwork, his war journey started with the Senior Cadets F company 77 battalion, before moving to H company 76 infantry battalion. This was a subunit to the 27-infantry battalion. The 27th was the battalion that Sydney spent most of his war time experience with.

The 27th were known as “Unley’s own”, this was because most of the men who enlisted were from this district and probably knew each other, this helped them develop an enduring mateship.

Whilst Sydney and Lance were both in the 27th Battalion, they were however in different reinforcements, Lance the 3rd and Sydney the 9th. Sydney enlisted on the 2nd of August 1915, whereas Lance, on the 19th of May 1915. This shows the depth of their connection as brothers and best friends, as they bravely marched into battle together.

Sydney and the rest of his battalion embarked for Egypt on the HMAT Miltiades A28 on the 7th of February 1916. Little did they know that these were the people they were going to spend the next 3 years with, but for Lance and others it was the rest of their lives!

Whilst in Egypt, Sarah Louise Branford, Great Granddaughter of Sydney reported,  “After arrival in Egypt, Syd was escorted to dusty Alexandria for another short period of training. During his stay in Egypt, Syd was admitted to hospital because he contracted a disease. As training came to an end, Syd and the 27th Battalion ventured to the Western Front, arriving in France on the 6th of July 1916.”, (Virtual War Memorial, 2018).

Unfortunately, this would not be the only time Sydney was admitted to hospital during his wartime service, demonstrating the ANZAC spirit of perseverance and determination.

Whilst on the Western Front, as reported by Walter Dollman, Lieutenant Colonel of the 27th battalion, “In accordance with instructions, the 27th Battalion moved off from La Boiselle for the position of assembly on the afternoon of August 4th, the first platoon moving at 5:30 PM. An artillery bombardment from Australian guns between the hours of 5:00 and 6:00 PM resulted in a fairly heavy enemy retaliation, and all communication trenches were shelled.,” (The Blue and Brown Diamond, 1921). The relentless gun fire and artillery bombardment would have made for a chaotic and overwhelming environment.

Coincidentally, on the 4th of August, Sydney was injured with two shrapnel wounds. One to his face and one to his left arm. He was then transferred to a hospital in Bristol, England. It can be assumed, based on the report, that Sydney was part of the artillery bombardment, along with his brother.

On that same day, Lance was reported missing in action. This information soon led to the truth that Lance had been killed in action on the 4th of August, due to German gunfire on the Battle of Mouquet farm, Pozieres. A direct letter from the Secretary of the 27th battalion to Sydney Branford on the 22nd of January 1917,

“......We have received an unofficial report about your brother No. 2453. Pte. L. W. Branford, 27th Battn. A.I.F. who is missing since August 4th. Informant says he saw your brother fall as they were crossing the ridge at Mouquet Farm. He thinks that a shell caused the casualty. Informant had to go on in the attack and did not see your brother again. Another man says Pte. Branford’s brother, presumably yourself, told him that he knew his brother had been killed on August 4th. We are still continuing the inquiry and hope to have some further reports to send you which will throw some light on your brother's fate.”

It took Sydney four months to recover from his wounds from the artillery at Pozieres. He was then shipped back to Europe, on the SS Victoria, ready to rejoin his battalion. Sydney was fighting again in Pozieres with his battalion for another eight months. He helped his unit regain control of the French Front Line. The relatively flat terrain of Pozieres offered little natural cover. This meant that soldiers were exposed to enemy fire and observations. The artillery bombardment in Pozieres drastically altered the terrain, creating craters. The cratered landscape made mobility difficult for soldiers. The soldier's mobility was also significantly impacted due to the mud. The relentless rainfall and artillery bombardments, in Pozieres, agitated the soil, transforming the once firm land, into a risky swamp of mud and water. The mud and water seeped into the soldier's shoes, exposing them to the risk of ‘trench foot’, a painful disease caused by prolonged exposure to damp and unsanitary conditions. According to the ‘Blue and Brown Diamond’ book, “…. and during the whole evening the rain had continued, and by that time was pouring down in torrents, while every ditch and trench was a roaring flood.”.

This abruptly ended when Sydney contracted another disease, resulting in his hospitalisation, yet again, for another 9 days at the divisional rest station in France. Sydney was then granted leave and left for England in September 1917.

During Sydney’s time in Edinburgh, on the 20th of September 1917 he committed the military crime of feigning drunkenness. As a result of Sydney’s actions, he forfeited 14 days' pay, actioned by Major G. H. Howard, on the 24th of September 1917. This incident reflects larrikinism, defined by a disregard for authority and discipline within military ranks. S

On the 20th of December, Sydney was admitted into the 3rd field ambulance, with a venereal disease. He was then discharged to Base Depot 39, General Hospital, with the total period lasting 39 days.

On the 18th of February 1918, Sydney committed another military crime. This time it was for returning to his unit early without permission. He forfeited another 14 days’ pay.

Sydney re-joined his battalion in Bellebrune, France and fought for 2 more months until, on the 24th of May 1918, he was admitted, again, to a military hospital in Rouen with a raised temperature and over 3 weeks of illness. He was then discharged and was given 9 days of rest in Rouen. Sydney was then able to have an extra day of leave. This resulted in him forfeiting one day of pay due to him overstaying his leave by an hour and ten minutes. Demonstrating the strictness that the Australian Imperial Force had on its soldiers and Sydney’s disregard for it.

After rejoining his unit on the 13th of July 1918, Sydney was injured with shrapnel to his left hand. The shrapnel cut was so deep that Sydney was admitted into the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford, London, England. It was suspected that Sydney’s injury was self-inflicted, as many injuries during WW1 occurred so soldiers could avoid battle. It was later found out that in fact it was an accident.

Sydney’s final war crime happened to be one he had made previously. It was committed in London from the 8th to the 9th of November 1918, Sydney was found absent without leave and forfeited the next days' pay.  Despite all Sydney's indiscretions, near the end of his wartime experience (11th of January 1919) he was promoted to Sergeant. As quoted by Great Granddaughter, Sarah Louise Branford, “As Syd’s wartime experiences were coming to an end, he was promoted to a sergeant on the 11th of January 1919 and departed England on the 16th via SS Demosthenes, arriving back home on the 26th of February 1919”, (Virtual War Memorial, 2018).

On return to Australia, Sydney met the love of his life, Nance McIntosh. On the 3rd of August 1938, they declared their love and commitment, becoming married in front of their family and friends, at the St. Lawrence Priory, North Adelaide. Sydney’s first child, John, was born one year later, on the 25th of July 1939. He also had two other children, Julie, and Jane.  

Post War, Sydney was a bank clerk at the Savings Bank of South Australia and was then promoted to Bank Manager, of the Murray Bridge branch. Sydney's name will forever be displayed in honour of his sacrifices for Australia on the Adelaide Savings Bank of South Australia Roll of Honour Board, WW1. This board also contains the names of 61 other officers of the bank and is displayed at 97 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia.

he 27th Battalion are commemorated behind the South Australia National War Memorial, on North Terrace in the form of a wooden cross in memory of the officers who had fallen at Pozieres in WW1. “This Celtic cross was erected in France by the battalion in memory of comrades who fell.”, (the Virtual War Memorial).

Along with many other war survivors, Sydney suffered with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. A story shared by Sydney’s son, John to Sarah Louise Branford, “One thundery day, Syd, and his son John were walking down the street to catch a bus. Out of nowhere a very loud clap of thunder was heard and Syd went to the ground with his hands over his head. Syd’s automatic reflexes must have been due to experiencing the many exploding shells during his years of army service.”, (Virtual War Memorial, 2018).  

Sydney’s fulfilled life, ended on the 21st of September 1971, aged 75, due to a heart attack on his way to work.

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