Bradley E.

EBENEZER BRADLEY (1893-1918)

81318 Private Ebenezer Bradley, 1^st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own) died of wounds 24 October 1918 and is buried at Premont British Cemetery.[1] He was 25 years old and is commemorated on the Cockfield War Memorial and the Memorial Plaque in the Cockfield Methodist Church .

Family Details

Ebenezer was born 1893 [2] at Cockfield to Edwin Stobart and Linny Bradley both born at Cockfield. There were 5 children, all born at Cockfield:

Gertrude bc.1889
Mary Ellena bc.1891
Ebenezer born 1893
Gladstone Dixon bc.1899
Edwin bc 1900

In 1901, the family lived at Main Street and Edwin worked as a coal miner (hewer).[3] By 1911, the family lived at Bleak Terrace, Edwin was now a deputy (coal miner), 20 year old Mary Ellen was still at home, 18 year old Ebenezer was a coal miner (putter), 12 year old Gladstone was at school as was 10 year old Edwin.[4] By 1916, the family lived at 11 Mayfield Terrace, Cockfield and Ebenezer worked as a miner at Gordon House Colliery.[5] By 1918, Edwin Bradley aged 18 is declared as his full blood brother and Mary Ellen as his 28 year old sister. Edwin, his father signed the declaration.[6]

Service Details

29 January 1916: attested aged 22 years 10 months[7] into the 4^th Battalion, the Northumberland Fusiliers, originally given the regimental number 78721.[8] He was 5ft.5½” tall and weighed 122 lbs.[9]

He joined the Army Reserve 30 January 1916 and was mobilized 29 April 1918. He was posted to the 4/Northumberland Fusiliers at Hornsea 30 April 1918 and spent 8 days (22-29 May 1918) in hospital suffering with a septic ulcer to the left leg. The date he entered France is not legible but he was transferred to the West Yorkshire Regiment 27 September 1918. [10]

The 1^st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment was a regular army battalion which served on the Western Front since September 1914 and came under the orders of the 18^th Brigade of the 6^th Division.[11] Units in the Brigade were:

1^st, West Yorkshire Regt.
1^st, East Yorkshire Regt. left November 1915
2^nd, Sherwood Foresters left October 1915
2^nd, Durham Light Infantry
1/16^th London Regt. (November 1914-January 1916)
11^th, Essex Regt. joined October 1915
14^th, Durham Light Infantry (November 1915-February 1918)
18^th Brigade MGC (February 1916-March 1918)
18^th Trench Mortar Battery formed April 1916 [12]

In October 1918, the 6^th Division as part of the 9^th Corps, Fourth Army saw action at the Battle of Selle, 17 – 25 October 1918.[13]

The War Diary [14] records:

16 October: on the afternoon, the Battalion marched to about 3000 yards west of Vaux Andigny.

17 October: 1.30am marched to Vaux Andigny in preparation for an attack at 5.30am. The 18^th Infantry Brigade attacked enemy positions just east of Vaux Andigny – 2/DLI on the left, 11/Essex on the right and 1/WYR in the Brigade Reserve. The attack was successful and the objective was gained with few casualties. “B” and “D” Companies were sent to “mop-up” and helped consolidate the position. 2 other ranks were killed and 8 wounded.

18 October: am the battalion relieved 2/DLI and 11/Essex in the line.

19 October: the battalion was withdrawn.

20 October: bussed from Bohain to St. Souplet and moved up to Arbre de Guise and took over the line held by the 105^th and 106^th Regiments, American Infantry – “C” Company on the right, “A” Company on the left, “B” Company in support and “D” Company in reserve.

21/22 October: at night the right sector of the battalion was relieved by 2/DLI – “A” and “B” Companies now in the front line, “D” in support and “C” in reserve. Orders issued that the 18^th Brigade would attack the enemy’s position on the west side of the Oise et Sambre Canal in conjunction with the 1^st Division on the right and the 71^st Brigade on the left. The objective of the operation was to form a defensive flank to larger operations further to the north.

23 October: 01.20am, 1/WYR and 2/DLI attacked with 11/Essex in reserve. The assaulting battalions were “A” and “B” Companies with “D” company in support and “C” Company in reserve supported by 1 section, Machine Gun Company, 1 section Tank Corps and 1 Light Trench Mortar Battery. Casualties – 2 officers and 16 other ranks killed; 3 officers and 70 other ranks wounded; 16 other ranks missing.

24 October: 02.25am, the final objective was reached. During the day the battalion consolidated its position. Patrols moving forward were met with opposition “though not of a serious nature” from the villages of Ors and Le Donjon. Casualties – 2 other ranks killed; 5 other ranks wounded. During these operations 3 field guns, 2 heavy and 2 light machine guns and 4 anti-tank guns were captured along with 1 officer and 66 other ranks.

Private E. Bradley suffered GSW (gunshot wound) to the abdomen 24 October 1918 [15] and died of his wounds that day at 55 Casualty Clearing Station, France. Another casualty noted on the same telegraph was 81317 Private R. Murraney. [16]

The battle continued and 1/West Yorkshire Regiment lost 37 other ranks, killed in action or died of wounds between 17 and 28 October 1918. 3 other ranks died of wounds, 24 October 1918. [17]

Private E. Bradley was awarded the British War and Victory medals. [18]

Burial

81318 Private E. Bradley is buried at grave reference I.B.13 Premont British Cemetery, France. There are 536 burials including 81317 Private R. Murraney at I.A.24. [19]

References:

[1] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[2] England & Wales Birth Index 1837-1915 Vol.10a p.271 Auckland Q2 1893

[3] 1901 census

[4] 1911 census

[5] Army Form B. Attestation Form

[6] Army Form W.508

[7] Attestation Form

[8] Soldiers Died in the Great War

[9] Army Form

[10] Army Form B.103 Casualty Form-Active Service

[11] http://www.1914-1918.net/westyorks.htm