Brandon was born in
Wellington, New Zealand, on 21 July 1883. He was the son of the
Mayor of Wellington,
Alfred Brandon and Louisa Kebbell. He was the grandson of the Member of the House of Representatives (MHR), also called
Alfred Brandon. Brandon was practising law for his father's company 'Brandon, Hislop and Johnston' in Wellington when the war broke out in August 1914. He gave up his job and resigned his commission in the
5th (Wellington) Regiment in order to travel to England, where he learned to fly at the Hall Flying School at
Hendon at his own expense, gaining Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 1905 on 17 October 1915. He joined the
Royal Flying Corps, receiving a commission as a probationary second lieutenant on 8 December 1915, which was confirmed on 8 March 1916. On 1 April 1916, flying a
B.E.2e fighter of No. 19 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron, he succeeded in attacking
Zeppelin L 15 using
Ranken darts. It subsequently came down in the sea, and although the airship had already been damaged by anti-aircraft fire, his efforts won him the
Military Cross. It was the first Zeppelin brought down over England. following the shooting down of Zeppelin L 33 by No. 39 (Home Defence) Squadron. During 1917–1918 he was the commanding officer of
50 Squadron, and was promoted to major in January 1918. Brandon returned to New Zealand in early 1919 and assisted in the preparation of a report on New Zealand air defences, before returning to join his family's law practice, Brandon, Ward, Hislop and Powles. ==Personal life==