Name
Stanley Percival Bradford
1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/05/1915
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
13157
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RAILWAY DUGOUTS BURIAL GROUND (TRANSPORT FARM)
I. A. 4.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
UNTIL THE DAY BREAK
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Memorial, Apsley End,
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial,
John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley
Pre War
Stanley Percival Bradford was born in 1892 in Stoke Newington, London, the son of John and Martha Bradford and one of five sons.
His father was a Police Constable on the 1891 Census and the family moved to Gibraltar at some point as Stanley's two youngest brothers, Victor and Albert were born there in 1897 and 1901. They then moved back to England as John, aged 13, was admitted to Apsley Manor Boys School on 5 June 1905.
On the 1911 Census although his father was not with them, his mother was listed as Head of the family and they were living at 96 Apsley End, Hemel Hempstead. His mother was working as a Caretaker at the Church Rooms and Stanley was a warehouseman at a stationary manufacturer (John Dickinson & Co., Apsley Mills). He was Honorary Secretary of Hemel Hempstead Junior Conservative Association and was also said to be a 'popular artiste at local entertainment', according to the local newspaper.
His parents later lived at 21 London Road, Hemel Hempstead.
Wartime Service
Stanley was one of the first to enlist in Watford in August 1914, joining the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. He underwent basic training at Harwich and earned promotion to Lance Corporal a month after enlisting. He was promoted to Corporal within three months, then Sergeant by the time he arrived at the Front, serving in France from 24 March 1915.
Very soon he saw action and intense fighting at Hill 60 and experienced gas attacks carried out by the Germans which resulted in a number of casualties. When the Battalion was relieved on 7 May it had suffered over 300 casualties.
He was killed in action on 30 May 1915, age 22, when a shell landed in his communication trench at Ypres and is buried at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm), Belgium.
Additional Information
His father, J L Bradford, 96 Apsley End, Hemel Hempstead, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "UNTIL THE DAY BREAK".
His mother received a war gratuity of £6 and pay owing of £8 13s 1d. She also received a pension of 5 shillings a week.
His brother Victor C Bradford, Royal Horse Artillery, No. 139998 also served and survived the war.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelatwar.org., www.hemelheroes.com.
