Robert Brand was the only son of Robert Brand and Jemima Brewster, and he had three younger sisters: Mary, Jemima and Amy.

Robert Brand & Sons, builders in Perth, was established in the early part of the nineteenth century and was responsible for many important contracts in Perth, including Pullar's Dyeworks. The photographs included below show: Pullar's Dyeworks; shops at the corner of High Street and Caledonian Road; Kinnoull School and houses at the corner of Kinnear Street and Strathmore Street.

Most of the buildings built by Robert Brand & Sons still exist and although some of them have been converted for other use they are all still immediately recognizable to anyone visiting the City of Perth.

After leaving Perth Academy Robert Brand junior worked for a time along with his father before entering the office of the Burgh Surveyor for further experience.

Robert enlisted with the Scottish Horse in August 1914, and would probably have re-joined the family business had he not lost his life in the Great War.

Robert was born in Perth on 11th February 1896. In 1901 the Brand family were living at 1 Charlotte Place, Perth: Father, Robert (Builder and Contractor), b. c1864, Stonehaven, Kincardineshire; Mother, Jemima, b. c1868, Perth; Daughter, Mary, b. c1895, Perth; Son, Robert, b. 11th February 1896, Perth; Daughter, Jemima, b. c1898, Perth; and Daughter, Amy, (under one month old). Also living at this address were Isabella Jellasha (Nurse), b. c1849, Greenock, Renfrewshire; Nellie C. Borthwick (Domestic Nurse), b. c1873, Newburgh, Fifeshire; and Agnes Peddie (Domestic Servant), b. c1867, Kettins, Forfarshire.

Military Cross Citation: “He jumped into a canal under heavy machine-gun fire from the opposite bank, swam to a drifting platoon, and ferried across a party of men who had been cut off. Throughout he displayed remarkable courage and coolness, and it was largely due to his efforts that a heavy defeat was inflicted on the enemy.”

Perthshire Advertiser, 15th May 1918 “OUR OWN MEN “Perthshire Officers “Second Lieutenant Robert Brand, R.E., killed, was the elder son of Mr and Mrs Robert Brand, 10 Barossa Place, Perth. A Perthshire cricketer, he enlisted along with a number of other playing members of the County Club during the second week of the war in the Scottish Horse at Dunkeld. He was educated at Perth Academy, and after working for a time along with his father, he entered the office of the Burgh Surveyor for further experience. He was so employed when he enlisted. Second Lieutenant Brand was a fine example of the best type of young Scottish manhood. He was popular with his companions before the war, and in the army he was exceedingly well liked both by officers and men by reason of his outstanding qualities.”

Robert Brand was 22 years old when he lost his life. Robert Brand is also commemorated on the St. Leonard’s United Free Church War Memorial, Perth.