GEORGE NICHOLSON BRADFORD VC

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1 GEORGE NICHOLSON BRADFORD VC BORN: 23 April 1887 (Darlington, Durham) DIED: Killed in VC Action 23 April 1918 (Zeebrugge Raid) VC ACTION At a time when Allied shipping was coming under increasing attack from German submarines, the Royal Navy carried out a raid which successfully blocked the entrance to the canal at Zeebrugge, Belgium. During the raid George Bradford commanded the naval storming parties embarked in HMS Iris II. Encountering difficulties placing parapet anchors alongside the fortified mole which defended Zeebrugge Harbour, he climbed a derrik projecting over the mole. Waiting for the right moment, as the ship moved upwards, George jumped with the anchor which he placed in position. Within seconds, he was riddled with machine gun fire and fell dead in the water. The Mother of the Bradford Boys Amy M Bradford (nee Andrews) was born in Brabourne, Ashford Kent and resided in 1881 was residing at St Dunershill House, Willesborough, Ashford, Kent. Her family were recorded on the 1881 census

2 George ANDREWS 58 Farmer Brabourne Ellen 48 Hinxhill Agnes J 23 Brabourne Amy M 22 Brabourne Fanny E 20 Brabourne Mary L 15 Bidborough Bertha E 13 Bidborough Harold ALLEN 24 Servant Biddenden Ellen HODGES 17 Servant Wateringbury The Census states that George Andrews farmed 120 acres and that he employed 5 men and 1 boy. Form many years, Mrs Amy Bradford attended the annual Armistice Day service at the war memorial s in Ashford and Folkestone Kent. Like so many greiving mothers, she wore the medals of her children killed in the Great War. She had lost three of her four sons, but, like no other mother, she wore TWO Victoria Crosses in memory of George and Roland who were the only brothers to gain the VC during the Great War. The Fighting Bradford s as all 4 brothers came to be known, were the sons of George and Amy Bradford. The brothers had one sister called Amy who was the youngest of the family. Their father George Bradford was a Mining Engineer and Colliery Owner of Milbanke, Darlington. Their mother Amy M Andrews was from Brabourne Kent. Thomas Andrews Bradford (note his mothers maiden name being used as a christian name) the oldest brother, was born in 1886 and was the only brother to survive the Great War. He served with 8 th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry and was badly wounded in 1915 at Ypres. He went on to win the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Thomas died in George Nicholson Bradford was born in He joined the Royal Navy and, as a Lieutenant Commander, was awarded a posthumous VC for his bravery during the raid on the harbour at Zeebrugge in Belgium on 23 April It was his 31 st Birthday. James Barker Bradford was born in He was commissioned into the 18 th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (the Durham Pals) as a Second Lieutenant and gained the Military Cross (MC) for his bravery near Gommecourt, France in March James was severely wounded on 10 May 1917 near Arras and died of his wounds four days later (14 May 1917) aged 27 years of age. Roland Boys Bradford was born on 23 February 1892 at Whitton Park, Bishop Aukland, Durham. In August 1914 Roland was commissioned into the 2 nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. His battalion landed in France 10 September 1914 and Roland remained with them during all it s engagments. In February 1915 Roland won the Military Cross (MC). By May 1915 Roland appointed Captain and Adjutant 7 th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. On 15 September 1916 Roland was appointed Lieutenant Colonel and given

3 command of his own battalion - the 9 th DLI (151 st Brigade, 50 th Division). Roland won his VC as a Lt Col on 1 October 1916 whilst commading his battalion on the Somme. He eventually received his VC from H.M King George V during an open air ceremony at Hyde Park on 2 June On 10 November 1917 Roland was given command of 186 th Brigade and was appointed Temporary Brigadier General. Roland was the youngest British General to serve in the Great War. His rapid rise through the ranks was halted on 30 November 1917 at Cambrai when Roland was Killed in Action by a stray shell near his Brigade HQ in Bourlon Wood. Roland was buried nearby in Hermies British Cemetery. Roland s favourate hymn Abide with me was played at his funeral and this hymn was adopted as the Regimental hymn. It is still the Regimental Hymn When killed Roland was only 25 years of age. It is impossible to guess what higher rank he might have attained by the end of the Great War had he lived. In 1942, when General Montgomery took over the 8 th Army in North Africa, he was already 54 years old. Roland Bradford would have still only been 50 years of age

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