Christopher Brandon (police officer)

This article is about the police officer who became Superintendent of the Dartford Constabulary. For the footballer, see Chris Brandon.
Christopher Brandon

Christopher Brandon was born into the British Navy Royal Artillery at the Eastbourne Barracks in Sussex on August 16, 1806.[1] All that is known about his family is that his parents, Lavydike and Elizabeth Brandon, had two additional daughters, Mary and Rosehannah. Christopher went on to join the British Navy and later became a Kent police Constable and ultimately Superintendent of the Dartford Constabulary.

British Royal Navy, 1818–1834

In 1818 at age 12, Brandon joined the Royal Artillery 3rd Battalion at Eastbourne, Sussex with Soldiers number 235.[2] On August 13, 1830, Brandon became an Able Seaman aboard the HMS Prince Regent in Sheerness, Scotland. HMS Prince Regent (1823) participated in several battles off the coast of Portugal during the Liberal Wars, 1832–1833, when the British intervened on behalf of Dom Pedro I to depose his brother Miguel I.

Brandon married Sarah Ann Hill at St Luke's Church, Charlton, Kent on March 20, 1832.[3] The couple would produce eleven children.

On June 15, 1833, Brandon would be promoted to 'Conductor of Rockets' in the ship-based Rocket Brigade aboard the HMS Prince Regent while attacking Lisbon. He commanded several Congreve rocket barrages against enemy ships and targets on shore, including Lisbon itself.

Constabulary career

An 1850s Metropolitan Police 'Peeler'

Brandon, aged 30, joined the Kent Constabulary in Dartford May 27, 1835, with constable warrant number 10509.[4] A look into the daily activity of Brandon in his role as Police Constable, recapturing an escaped convict on February 20, 1840.[5]

In early 1850 Brandon was promoted to Dartford Superintendent, according to multiple newspaper articles of the time. On February 7, 1857, Brandon was promoted to Superintendent of Dartford Upper division of Sutton-at-Hone, Kent. Shortly after his promotion, on April 30, 1858, Brandon was involved in the hunt for several escaped convicts from a train at Fawkham near Dartford.[6] There are many other newspaper articles describing his activities and court cases during his time as a policeman, from the early days through his retirement on April 16, 1872.[7]

Brandon died on January 25, 1895, aged 88 in Dartford.[8]

  • HMS Prince Regent
    HMS Prince Regent
  • Congreve rocket patch, from Portugal campaign, 1832–33. Patch belonged to Brandon. Note this patch was flown into Earth orbit by Jared Isaacman, commander of the SpaceX Polaris Dawn spaceflight in September 2024
    Congreve rocket patch, from Portugal campaign, 1832–33. Patch belonged to Brandon. Note this patch was flown into Earth orbit by Jared Isaacman, commander of the SpaceX Polaris Dawn spaceflight in September 2024
  • Christopher Brandon letter regarding his Rocket Brigade appointment in 1833
    Christopher Brandon letter regarding his Rocket Brigade appointment in 1833
  • Official discharge papers for Brandon from the Kent Constabulary, 1872
    Official discharge papers for Brandon from the Kent Constabulary, 1872

References

  1. ^ "Christophers Record of birth in the Royal Artillery". Family Search. London – via Family Search.
  2. ^ "Enlisting with the Royal Artillery 3 Battalion". National archives. London – via UK National archives.
  3. ^ "Christophers Record of marriage to Sarah Ann Hill in Old Charlton". Family Search. London – via Family Search.
  4. ^ "Joining the Dartford Constabulary". National archives. London – via UK National archives.
  5. ^ "The Recaptured Convict". British Newspaper Archive. London – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Desperate Escape of Prisoners from a Railway Train". British Newspaper Archive. London – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "Christopher Brandon retires from the Dartford Constabulary". British Newspaper Archive. London – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ "Christophers Record of death at age 88 in Dartford". Family Search. London – via Family Search.
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