Benjamin Wesley Brand, the son of William and Charlotte Brand of West Mersea was born 1887.
Ben served in the Army in WW1. He enlisted (that is volunteered) on 4 December 1914. An article in the Essex County Standard of 5th December, 1914, records that Ben had joined the "Territorials Cycling Corps". Ben left for France on or soon after 31st July 1916, almost certainly part of the reinforcements for the ill-fated Somme Campaign. He was wounded in head or face, as clearly shown in some later photographs. Ben was discharged from the Army on 21st August 1919.

Daisy Myrtle Smith was the 14th and last but one child of George Frederick Smith and Mary Overall Snow and was born on 19th April, 1897.
Ben and Daisy married on 17th April 1922. They lived in Fingringhoe and Ben was working at the gravel works there.
Ben contracted TB. Daisy's brother Fred G bought a house called Meryfelde in Kingsland Road, West Mersea for Ben and Daisy when Ben had to stop working. Ben died in late 1931 or early 1932. In 1955 Daisy married the Rev. Arthur King. Arthur King sadly died the following year. Daisy died in 1989.