William Arthur Bradbury was killed in action on this day in 1915
William Arthur Bradbury was born on 28 November 1892 in Brentford, the eldest son of James Arthur Bradbury, a Wholesale Grocer, and Minnie Elizabeth Bradbury (née Edwards). He had three younger brothers, Harry, Philip and Kenneth. In 1901, the family lived at 53 Hamilton Road in Ealing.
William was educated at King's College in Wimbledon, By 1911, the family lived at Walpole Lodge, Strawberry Hill, Waldegrave Rd in Twickenham, and brothers William and Harry were both working in the family business.
At the outbreak of war, in September 1914, William and Harry joined the London Rifle Brigade together - they had Service Numbers 1069 and 1072 respectively. Both served with 5th City of London Bn (London Rifle Brigade), The London Regiment, in France and Flanders from June 1915.
On 2 December 1915, William was killed in action in trenches at St Eloi. The Battalion War Diary for 2 December 1915 says:
"VOORMEZELE Fine day but wet night. Worked on trenches. Put up wire entanglements in front of T1 and started draining C.T. ....... Enemy shelled saphead leading to left crater. As a result, 2 bombers posted there were killed".
One of the men must have been William. He was buried on the battlefield.
Captain A.L. Lintott wrote to William's parents:
"I was in command of No.2 Company, up to almost the end of November, and I had often noticed your two boys. They were both very good and keen on their work and always took the cheerful side of things. W.A.B. will be a sad loss to the company and regiment, and he will be another who has laid down his life for King and Country and Regiment".
Fellow rifleman W.E. Calow said
"I cannot in mere words tell you how I feel about the loss of such a comrade. After a year's continual friendship, working together under all conditions, it seems that I have lost one who was more than a brother".
William is commemorated on the Menin Gate in Ypres.
Brother Harry transferred to the 18th (1st Public Works Pioneers) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment where he was promoted 2nd Lieutenant. He was killed in action at Meteren in Belgium on 16 April 1918 . The Battalion War Diary entry for 16 April 1918 says
"Early in morning N.Z. Rifles were ordered to withdraw through switch line. Right flank of switch line fell back with them. Enemy gained a footing in METEREN. An attempt was made to check this by Right Coy Commander which was unsuccessful. 2/Lt H.C. Bradbury killed by shellfire".
Harry is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.
1069 Rifleman William Arthur Bradbury, 5th City of London Bn (London Rifle Brigade), The London Regiment