Born 7/11/1917 at Jeannettes Creek, Kent Co., ON. T son of Ernest Garfield Bradley and Charlotte Josephine (Sterling) Bradley of Jeannette’s Creek, Ontario. He had one sister named Betty (Jenner). Roy attended school at Jeanette’s Creek Public School and graduated from Tilbury High School.

In order to further his education, Roy went to the Chatham Vocational School and took book-keeping. He moved to Chatham and lived with his Uncle Joe Moore at 57 Poplar Street. Roy graduated from CVS in 1936 and found a position with the Imperial Bank on King St., Chatham as a junior clerk where he worked for four years as a ‘ledger keeper’. It was while working at the bank he met Douglas Gordon-Kay who would be killed 6 November, 1942 and was buried a few miles from Roy.

Roy first enlisted in the army, transferring to the RCAF 17/12/1940 at Windsor, ON. In October of 1940, Roy was ordered to report to the Manning Pool in Toronto to begin his training. TT 24/10/40. As part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, he trained at Toronto, Picton, Victoriaville Cap-de-La Madeleine. He received his wings in Dunnville on 20/08/41.

He left for overseas assignment in December 1941 aboard the “Empress of Asia”. Once in England, he was transferred to OTS Castle Kennedy in Scotland, Penrhos in Wales, Clark (England) and Llandworg in Wales.

One year and a day after receiving his wings, while flying Anson aircraft # DJ 117 on night navigation over Scotland, the plane crashed near Wigtown, Scotland, killing Flt.Sgt. Bradley and three others. His parents were informed of his death in late August. They also received word that an impressive funeral had been conducted “in the quiet of a Scottish Church.”   DOAA – Date of Death: 21/08/1942, Age: 24, 

Additional information informed the family that his aircraft had been on operations and that the plane had crashed after returning to Scotland. “The wreckage of the airship was found in the Scottish Mountains.”

According to family his letters home were “filled with cheer and optimism that distinguished Canada’s fighter of today.” CDN 15/09/42 (P).

Flt. Sgt. Bradley was buried in a quiet cemetery at Wigtown. “He was tended the respects of the people of the community who have come to love Canada’s young ‘aces of the air.” CDN 198/09/42

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources	Chatham Fire Fighters 1944 Field Day Booklet 7 (12-08-1944), “The Tilbury Story 1887 -1987”., “They Shall Not Grow Old”, CDN (14-11-1942), Index of Overseas Deaths., CVWM (PHOTO), ATNCB(P)
Supplemental Information	Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 573. Cemetery: KIRKINNER CEMETERY. Wigtown Shire, Scotland, UK

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