HistoricaLEIGH - A Special Brand

November 6, 2014 by Carole Mulroney

A SPECIAL BRAND

Captain Brand may be a main character in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, but Leigh has its very own heroic Captain Brand.

St Clement’s Church has a memorial to Captain W H Brand who served as a midshipman on HMS Revenge at the Battle of Trafalgar. The memorial readsOn the centenary of Trafalgar (1905) the four surviving sons of Captain W H Brand who is buried here, have placed this stone to record that, as midshipman of HMS. Revenge he was one of those who, in the momentous battle of 21st October 1805, so amply satisfied their country that they had done their duty. Throughout the ten years of almost ceaseless warfare following Nelson's victory, Captain Brand bore a gallant part in many dangerous engagements and enterprises, distinguishing himself by devotion to duty, daring and seamanship worthy of England's naval traditions. In the period of his country's great struggle Captain Brand's father, himself formerly in the navy, gave four other sons to her service, one to the military and three to the naval forces. Of the latter, Lieutenant George Rowley Brand, lost his life in action in 1806, under circumstances publicly recognised as of heroic gallantry, going down on HMS Unique, which he commanded with colours flying and himself covered with twenty severe wounds.

HMS Revenge was a very new and fast ship and engaged several enemy vessels during the Battle. She was eventually severely damaged by the broadsides from the Principe de Asturias, a much bigger ship, and suffered heavy losses. She was rescued from sinking by HMS Thunderer.

Captain Brand lived on Leigh Hill and died in 1867 and is buried in St Clement’s.