The life of a Perthshire soldier shot dead while escaping from a German Prisoner of War camp is being researched by his great nephew.
Alex Crawford (59) is putting together a record of piper Andrew Brand’s life which he is to donate to Perth’s Black Watch Museum.
Andrew, of the 2nd Battalion of The Black Watch, was shot and killed, aged 27, while trying to escape from a work camp in German-occupied Poland in August 1944 while imprisoned at Stalag XX-A, Torun.
He had escaped from camps on five previous occasions.
In January 1945, Andrew was posthumously Mentioned in Dispatches (MiD) for distinguished action in the field.
His great nephew, of Largoward, Fife, has been carrying out research into his great uncle’s life.
The retired service engineer said: “My late mother Agnes used to tell Theresa, my wife, and I of her uncle and our great uncle Andrew Brand who was shot while trying to escape from a prisoner of war camp.
“That was all she knew. I have recently retired, so I have a bit more time to carry out some research into him.
“My aim is to put everything together into a booklet and present it with photos and a set of replica medals to the Black Watch Museum in Perth.
“I received a copy of Andrew’s PoW record from the National Archives. It is an eight-page document and it charts Andrew’s arrival at Stalag XX-A and the various work camps he was sent to.
“It also mentions his escape attempts including details of his last one.
“It clearly states he was shot while trying to escape and he was buried three days later in a camp cemetery.”
Andrew was born to Henry Brand and Isabella Brand (née Ritchie) at Rossiebank Cottage, Dunning, on October 11,
1916.
Previously a farm hand, he joined the Black Watch in 1935 and served in Palestine, British Somaliland and then Crete.
He was wounded during the German invasion of Crete on May 10, 1941. Ten days later he was captured by German forces and spent the rest of the war in various PoW camps.
From camps in Crete and Greece he was transferred to Stalag XX-A in December 1941.
Alex said: “Andrew, like many other prisoners, was shipped out to various work camps for weeks or months at a time.
“During his time at these camps he carried out a number of escape attempts, but was always captured and brought back to Stalag XX-A where he would be placed in solitary confinement.
“It was during his sixth escape attempt on August 10, 1944, that he was shot and
killed. He was buried in the camp cemetery three days later.”
Alex has had 14 books published since 2002 all aviation related.
He added: “I am trying to get in touch with any relatives who may be able to help me with more details about Andrew.
“Any leads or help would be appreciated.
“I’ve worked on my family tree on and off for a number of years and it’s only been lately that I have carried out more research into Andrew.
“So far he is the only family member to have had military service, although both my grandfathers were in the Home
Guard.
“My aim is to have a written record of Andrew for the family.
“Most of his generation are no longer with us, and I believe it is up to us to keep their memories alive for future generations.”
To help Alex with his research email him at: [email protected]