Lieutenant Colonel George Frederick Braund M.L.A. Memorial, Armidale Middle Image Image 0 / 0 - Prev Next Description / Background The memorial is a large timber board, with a Gothic-shaped top and decorative scroll pieces attached to each side. The board is dedicated to Lieutenant Colonel George Frederick Braund M.L.A., who was accidently shot and killed in the First World War. Positioned below the board is an information panel detailing his life and service in Gallipoli, Turkey. It includes a photograph of him in uniform; however, incorrectly states he died on 2 May 1915, when the accident occured on 4 May. The board is inscribed with a list of politicians who have served Armidale in the NSW Colonial or State Parliament from 1856 to 1999. The districts include New England and Macleay; New England; Armidale, and Northern Tablelands. Braund is listed as the Member for Amidale from 1913–1915. Braund attended Bideford Grammar School in Devon, England, and arrived in Australia aged 21 years. A married man of Wycombe Road, Neutral Bay, NSW, and a Liberal Member for Armidale, he enlisted on 15 August 1914 as a Lieutenant Colonel in the 2nd Battalion, Headquarters. Previously, he had 21 years of military service in charge of the Northern District. His unit embarked from Sydney on board Transport A23 Suffolk on 18 October 1914. He was Mentioned in Despatches and was killed on 4 May 1915 at Gallipoli. Aged 49 years, he was buried in the Beach Cemetery, Anzac, at Gallipoli. He was the first Australian Member of Parliament to enlist in the Great War and the second to die in the conflict. The memorial is located in the Armidale Folk Museum. It was dedicated on 4 May 2001 by Dean of St Peters Cathedral, Armidale, Very Reverend Lindsay Newby. Access to it is restricted by the opening hours of the museum. Inscription Board LT. COL. GEORGE FREDERICK BRAUND M.L.A. 13-7-1866 – 4-5-1915 Born at Bideford U.K. / Killed at Gallipoli [Names of politicians] Armidale's representatives in the NSW Parliament This honour roll was dedicated on 4-5-2001 Information panel George Fred[e]rick Braund George Braund arrived in Australia with his family aged 15 years and moved to Armidale in 1889. He worked in his father's business Braund's General Merchants at the corner of Beardy and Dangar Streets where he ultimately became manager. He married Lalla Blythe in 1895 and they had two sons and a daughter. An able sportsman he excelled in boxing, fencing and Rugby Union and was active in local literary and drama groups. In 1913 he was elected Member for Armidale and was a Member of the Liberal Opposition in the New South Wales Parliament. When war broke out in August 1914 Braund, already a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army Reserve, immediately enlisted. As Commander of the 2nd Battalion AIF he took part in the fierce fighting at Gallipoli where he showed 'every quality of a really great leader'. On the night of 2nd May [4th May] 1915 Lieutenant-Colonel Braund failed to respond to a challenge from an Australian sentry and was accidentally shot and died instantly. S[o] ended a promising parliamentary and military career. Braund is buried at Gallipoli, one of 8500 Australians killed in that terrible campaign. Photograph from the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales. Related links Late Lieut.-Colonel Braund (15 May 1915) Veterans listed on this memorial Veterans listed on this memorial Sort by Family nameGiven nameWar Order AscDesc Items per page 1050100- All - Apply Last held rank Given name Family name Conflict/s Service No. Service Campaign Read more Lieutenant Colonel G F Braund First World War, 1914–18 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) Gallipoli 1915 view Do you know more about this war Memorial? Click here to learn how you can contribute Sidebar Address Armidale Folk Museum 124 Faulkner Street Armidale NSW 2350 Local Government Area Armidale Regional Council Setting Building – inside Location status Original location Memorial type Board/roll/plaque/tablet Recorded by Graham Wilson Year of construction 2001 Dedication date 04 May 2001 Conflict/s First World War, 1914–18 Materials Timber