Pte Alec BRADBURY 14Bn Canadian Inf. d.20/01/1917

[christine liava'a]

Remembering Today:

Pte Alec BRADBURY, 841627 14 Bn, Canadian Infantry, who died aged 18 on 20.01.17. Barlin Communal Cemetery Extn, France

Name: BRADBURY, ALEC

Initials: A

Nationality: Canadian

Rank: Private

Regiment: Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regt.)

Unit Text: 14th Bn.

Age: 18

Date of Death: 20/01/1917

Service No: 841627

Additional information: Youngest son of Andrew James and Annie Isabel Bradbury, of Stockport, England.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: I. F. 21.

Cemetery: BARLIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION

Barlin is a village about 11 kilometres south-west of Bethune on the D188, between the Bethune-Arras and Bethune-St. Pol roads, about 6.5 kilometres south-east of Bruay. The Communal Cemetery and Extension lie to the north of the village on the D171 road to Houchin.

The extension was begun by French troops in October 1914 and when they moved south in March 1916 to be replaced by Commonwealth forces, it was used for burials by the 6th Casualty Clearing Station. In November 1917, Barlin began to be shelled and the hospital was moved back to Ruitz, but the extension was used again in March and April 1918 during the German advance on this front.

The extension contains 1,094 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and a number of French and German war graves. Some French civilians killed in a colliery accident in 1917 are also buried in the extension. The extension was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

No. of Identified Casualties: 1166

[christine liava'a]

Alec Bradbury, according to his enlistment papers,

Alec Bradbury

was born in Quebec,Canada on Nov 4 1897, his nok- his mother, was Mrs Annie Bradbury. They lived at 197 Willisbrod Ave, Verdun, Quebec.

He enlisted on the 25 February 1916 aged 18 years and 3 months.

He was a plumber

He was 5' 5 1/2" tall, fairhaired and blue eyed

The address of nok conflicts with that on the CWGC listing, as does the age

Alec was 19 years 2 months old when he died.

[christine liava'a]

War Memorial, Verdun, Quebec, Canada

Verdun is a district of Montreal City, Quebec

[Peter Beckett]

Lee,

any chance you are related to Alec Bradbury?

Peter

[Guest Hill 60]

Peter - No, the only member (that I'm aware of) of my family to serve in the CEF was my great grandfather (see signature).

Alec Bradbury's details are on page 77 of Edward Wigney's book, The C. E. F. Roll of Honour, they state:

841627

Private

Bradbury, Alec

14th Bn

Died Jan 20/17

Buried F12 (Barlin Communal Cemetery)

Aged 18

Died of wounds (accidental death)

Previously served in 148th Bn

[mordac]

From the 14th Battalion's war diary, it appears Pte. Bradbury was accidentally wounded on the 19th and died and the 20th.

Garth

[John_Hartley]

Interesting that his parents are described as being "of Stockport", although, presumably, they had not lived in the town for at least 18 years.

One for Canadian Pals, perhaps, but would folk have often still described themselves in that way, rather than ".

Incidentally, Alec is not commemorated on any memorial in "greater Stockport".

John

[Will O'Brien]

There is one Alec Bradbury showing on the 1901 census aged 2 born in Mottram, Cheshire............the age is just about right.....but is Mottram close to Stockport?

[John_Hartley]

but is Mottram close to Stockport?

Yep. Right next door to the outer limits of "greater Stockport".

But wasnt he born in Quebec? Or could his attestation papers be inaccurate?

(Will: just had a look at your 2 year old. Shows him livingn in Rochdale, but no Andrew or Annie showing up as living in Rochdale. Don't think it can be him)

Edited 20 January , 2004 by John_Hartley

[Will O'Brien]

Will: just had a look at your 2 year old. Shows him livingn in Rochdale, but no Andrew or Annie showing up as living in Rochdale. Don't think it can be him

................Shame, thought I had him for a second