Name
Harry William Bradley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/11/1914
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
L/12736
London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
4th (City of London) Bn.
'B' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 6 and 8.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Leavesden Asylum/Hospital War Memorial, Leavesden,
All Saints Church Leavesden,
Metropolitan Asylums Board Roll of Honour, Mendip District, Somerset
Pre War
Harry William was born in 1890 in Holloway, London to Henry William Bradley, a carpenter, and Emma (nee Porter). The family of Parents, Harry and elder sisters Mary Ann (born 1884) and Emma Grace (born 1888) were living at 134, Fairbridge Road, Islington on the 1891 Census. On the 1901 Census the family were living at 44 Dutton Street, Greenwich with additions of Ellen R (Born 1886), Tabitha F (born 1893), Mabel C E (born1895) and Ethel M (born 1898). Harry’s mother died in 1902. His father probably married for a second time to Catherine Pathe Maire (nee Riley) in 1907.
Harry attested for the Royal London Militia in 1906 as Private 4903 and transferred to Royal Fusiliers in 1907.
Harry’s only connection to Leavesden Asylum is that his name appears on a Roll of Honour of Metropolitan Asylums Board of those members of staff who fell in the Great War. This is now situated in Somerset.
Wartime Service
Harry may have already been serving in the 4th Battalion as Private 12736 or may have been called from Reserve, as his Service Record was not found this could not be confirmed. He went to France with his Battalion as part of 9th Brigade 3rd Division landing at Le Havre on 13 Aug 1914. Having fought at Mons, The Marne and the Aisne battles 3rd Division provided 9th Brigade which included 4th Royal Fusiliers to take part in the Battle of Nonne Bosschen on 11 Nov 1914, this action was to prevent the advance of the German Army along the Menin Road towards Ypres. Harry was assumed to have died in this fighting (his death is recorded as ‘as on or since 11 Nov 1914). His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
There is an article about Harry in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 24 July 1915.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 and arrears of £15 19s 4d was paid to his Father. At present we do not have sufficient information to positively identify this man and his connection to Leavesden Asylum. If you can help please do so.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk,
