Frank Brandt

Captain Frank Brandt (2 October, 1871 – 1 November, 1914) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War. He was killed at the Battle of Coronel whilst in command of the armoured cruiser Monmouth in 1914.

Life & Career

On 21 July, 1892, acting Sub-Lieutenant Brandt was appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 55 for the annual summer manoeuvres.

On 31 May, 1894, Brandt was selected to qualify in Torpedo duties. He was appointed to Vernon from 30 September, 1894, to 18 August, 1896, to qualify. He was lent to the second class protected cruiser Apollo for manœuvres from 24 July to 27 August, 1895, and to Victory for command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 84 from 8 July to 18 August, 1896. He obtained a second class in his final examination for Torpedo Lieutenant.

He was appointed to the Junior Staff of Defiance at Devonport on 18 August, 1896, and on 5 December was appointed Torpedo Lieutenant of the second class protected cruiser Bonaventure and then the destroyer Eclipse on the East Indies Station on arrival there.

On 20 September, 1900, Brandt married Beryl Pennington at St. Peter's Church, South Kensington. She was the daughter of James Pennington, late of the Indian Civil Service. He was appointed to Vernon on 6 November and then to the first class protected cruiser Diadem in the Channel Squadron on 14 November. He was appointed to battleship Ramillies in the Mediterranean as First and Torpedo Lieutenant on 11 February, 1902.

At some point in 1903 Brandt was appointed to Duke of Wellington, additional, for torpedo duties in the Portsmouth Fleet Reserve. That year it appears he made helpful suggestions for a Graduated Sight Bar to better help torpedo ranges be judged.

Brandt was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1903, and appointed to Fire Queen for duty in the Fleet Reserve at Portsmouth. He was appointed to Fire Queen in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 116 on 3 January, 1905, and for command of a flotilla. On 18 April, 1906, he was appointed to the second class protected cruiser Mercury for duty with submarines and for command of the Portsmouth Submarine flotilla, and on 12 November he was appointed to the submarine Thames for duty with submarines.

On 2 April, 1907, he was appointed in command of Bonaventure for duty with submarines and for command of a submarine flotilla. An officer who served under him, Charles G. Brodie, later recalled that "Brandt was excitable, had a stentorian foretop voice and a famous flow of language." His "enthusiasm was unbounded," and after a misunderstanding which allegedly led to Brodie being placed under arrest, he admitted being "crushed at the Captain I had deified, believing I had defied him." Brodie ranked Brandt first among "the most human of the Navy's leaders of the period and among the best loved" he served with. "His explosions were violent but usually brief, and he expected others to forget them as completely as he did."

On 17 November, 1909, he was appointed to Mercury as Assistant to the Inspecting Captain of Submarines and in command of the Dover Submarine Flotilla.

Captain

Brandt was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1909, and reappointed to Mercury. He attempted to retire in 1910 but his application was refused, so that his experience in submarines might not be lost. On 14 November of that year he was appointed in command of Bonaventure and for command of the Portsmouth Submarine Flotilla. From June to July, 1912, he was lent to Victory for temporary command of the depot ship Maidstone for trials, and was appointed in command as Captain (S) of the Eighth Submarine Flotilla on 15 October, 1912. He was superseded in Maidstone on 1 September, 1913, and went on Half Pay at his own request.

Commodore, Second Class Roger J. B. Keyes, the Inspecting Captain then Commodore (S) since November, 1910, wrote of Brandt in August, 1913:

A most zealous officer, who has devoted the last 7 years to the Submarine Service. Always ready to share the risks & discomforts of the Submarine Service which owes much to him, particularly in regard to its development as an offensive arm. I consider that he lacks judg^t & sense of proportion, but he has given me most loyal service, I have a very high opinion of his grit & determination.

Brandt was appointed in command of the destroyer Eclipse on trooping duties on 24 February, 1914, and on 30 July, 1914 was appointed in command of the armoured cruiser Monmouth. He went down with his ship at the Battle of Coronel on 1 November.

A memorial service was held for Brandt on 21 January, 1915, in St. Dunstan's Chapel, St. Paul's Cathedral. His widow and four children were in attendance.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/43/208.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/89/75.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by George B. Hutton	Captain of H.M. T.B. 55 21 Jul, 1892 – 31 Aug, 1892	Succeeded by Arthur W. Tomlinson
Preceded by Herbert Orpen	Captain of H.M. T.B. 84 8 Jul, 1896 – 18 Aug, 1896	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M. T.B. 116 3 Jan, 1905 – 18 Apr, 1906	Succeeded by John S. Dumaresq
Preceded by Edgar Lees	Captain of H.M.S. Thames 12 Nov, 1906 – 2 Apr, 1907	Succeeded by William R. Napier
Preceded by Henry H. Torlesse	Captain of H.M.S. Bonaventure 2 Apr, 1907 – 17 Nov, 1909	Succeeded by Frank Brandt
Preceded by Frank Brandt	Captain of H.M.S. Bonaventure 14 Nov, 1910 – Jun, 1912	Succeeded by Stanley L. Willis
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Maidstone 15 Oct, 1912 – 1 Sep, 1913	Succeeded by Arthur K. Waistell
Preceded by ?	Captain (S), Eighth Submarine Flotilla 15 Oct, 1912 – 1 Sep, 1913	Succeeded by Arthur K. Waistell
Preceded by Henry Luxmore	Captain of H.M.S. Eclipse 24 Feb, 1914 – Jul, 1914	Succeeded by Francis H. Mitchell
Preceded by Brian H. F. Barttelot	Captain of H.M.S. Monmouth 30 Jul, 1914 – 1 Nov, 1914	Succeeded by Vessel Lost