Roland Bradford

Roland Boys Bradford
Born (1892-02-23)23 February 1892
Witton Park, County Durham, England
Died 30 November 1917(1917-11-30) (aged 25)
near Canal du Nord, Cambrai, France
Buried Hermies British Cemetery
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1910–1917
Rank Brigadier General
Unit Durham Light Infantry
Commands held 186th (2/2nd West Riding) Brigade
9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
Battles/wars

First World War

Awards Victoria Cross
Military Cross
Relations George Bradford (brother)

Brigadier General Roland Boys Bradford, VC, MC (23 February 1892 – 30 November 1917) was a British Army officer and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. His elder brother, Lieutenant Commander George Bradford, was also awarded the Victoria Cross, making them the only pair of brothers to be awarded the medal during the First World War.

Early life

Bradford was born on 23 February 1892 at Witton Park to George Bradford.[1] and educated at Epsom College[2][3] in Surrey. He had three brothers, James Barker, Thomas Andrews and George Nicholson.[4]

Military service

Bradford was commissioned into the 5th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (a Territorial Force unit) in 1910. He transferred to the Regular Army in 1912, joining his regiment's 2nd Battalion with the rank of second lieutenant. He was a lieutenant by the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.

On 1 October 1916, Bradford, now an temporary lieutenant colonel commanding the 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for his actions at Eaucourt L'Abbaye, France. His citation for the award was published in the London Gazette on 25 November, reading:[5]

For most conspicuous bravery and good leadership in attack, whereby he saved the situation on the right flank of his Brigade and of the Division. Lieutenant-Colonel Bradford's Battalion was in support. A leading Battalion having suffered very severe casualties, and the Commander wounded, its flank became dangerously exposed at close quarters to the enemy. Raked by machine-gun fire, the situation of the Battalion was critical. At the request of the wounded Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Bradford asked permission to command the exposed Battalion in addition to his own. Permission granted, he at once proceeded to the foremost lines. By his fearless energy under fire of all description, and his skilful leadership of the two Battalions, regardless of all danger, he succeeded in rallying the attack, captured and defended the objective, and so secured the flank.

Promotion and death

On 13 November 1917, at the age of 25, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general;[6] he was the youngest general officer in the British Army of modern times (and the youngest promoted professionally, earlier young generals were simply due to position). He was killed in action at Cambrai, France, just seventeen days later, on 30 November 1917.

All three of Bradford's brothers also served in the First World War. Two, Lieutenant Commander George Bradford of the Royal Navy and Second Lieutenant James Barker Bradford of the Durham Light Infantry, died in service.[4] George and Roland were the only pair of brothers to win the VC in the First World War. His third brother, Colonel Sir Thomas Bradford, became honorary treasurer of Durham University and High Sheriff of County Durham in 1941.

Bradford's grave at Hermies British Cemetery

Legacy

Bradford's Victoria Cross and Military Cross are currently on loan to the University of Durham and are held at Palace Green Library adjacent to Durham Cathedral in Durham, England. Medals are not on display, but members of the public are able to consult individual medals or groups of medals from the collection in the Barker Research Library within Palace Green Library.[7]

A memorial garden and statue to Bradford was unveiled in 2017. The British government commemorated the centenary of the First World War by installing an inscribed stone at the recipient's birthplace. Local councillors from Bradford's birthplace at Witton Park decided to use this occasion to create a memorial garden at the site with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Groundwork North-East and Durham County Council. A metal statue by Ray Lonsdale called "The Ball" was installed as part of the memorial garden. This depicts a soldier returning home from the front together with a pitman who is comforting him and passing a football to him representing giving him back his old life before the war.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Bradford, Roland Boys, Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  2. ↑ http://www.epsomandewellhistoryexplorer.org.uk/EpsomCollegeSupple.html
  3. ↑ "Roland Boys Bradford – DLI". DLI Museum. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012. Born at Witton Park, Durham on 23 February 1892, he was educated at Darlington Grammar School and Epsom College. He was commissioned in the 5th (TF) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (DLI) in 1910 and joined the Regular 2nd Battalion, DLI in 1912 as a 2nd lieutenant. His career during the Great War was remarkable, rising from lieutenant in 1914 to Brigadier General in 1917, when at 25 years old he was the youngest General in the British Army. During the War he served with 2 DLI, 7 DLI and commanded the 9th Battalion, DLI for over a year. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery at Eaucourt l'Abbaye on 1 October 1916, whilst commanding 9 DLI.
  4. 1 2 Bradford, George Nicholson, Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  5. ↑ "No. 29836". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 November 1916. p. 11525.
  6. ↑ "No. 30438". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 December 1917. p. 13329.
  7. ↑ University of Durham Special Collections – DLI Medals https://www.dur.ac.uk/library/asc/dlimedals/
  8. ↑ Community comes together at unveiling of Witton Park memorial to Roland Bradford, First World War Victoria Cross hero, Northern Echo, 12th March 2017 http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/15149564.Witton_Park_to_celebrate_Roland_Bradford__who_during_WWI_became_the_youngest_person_to_be_awarded_the_Victoria_Cross/

Further reading

  • The Fighting Bradfords (Harry Moses, ISBN 1-897585-75-6, County Durham Books, 2003)
  • Brigadier-General R B Bradford VC MC and His Brothers (C Turley-Smith and Major T Welch MC, ISBN 1-871167-24-8, Ray Westlake)
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