| Rank | Sergeant, Captain/Major |
| Unit # | 1st Bn. CEF |
| 24th Reg. | Yes |
| Resident | Chatham |
BRADLEY , WILLIAM FERGUSON CPT./ MAJOR. Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1001 – 52 Date of Birth 30/04/1891. “The name of “Capt. W. F. Bradley, England” – mentioned in Saturday’s official casualty list among a number of officers killed in action is believed to refer to “Bill” Bradley, a popular Chatham man.”
Born in Middlesex, England, the son of Robert J. Bradley, 324 Fore Street, Edmonton, England. Prior to the war he was a journalist at the Chatham Daily News, not married, living at 156 Grand Ave., Chatham and had been a member of the 24th Kent Regt. since 1912. At the outbreak of war he enlisted on the 19th of September, at that time his attestation papers show him as service number 6642, going overseas with the 1st Contingent CEF. First Battalion. He would service at the front with the rank of Sergeant. As a Lieutenant a commanded a bombing section in France.
Enlisting early after the outbreak of war William went to England with the 1st Division CEF as a Private. A letter dated 15 November, 1914 from Captain G.J. L. Smith to Lieutenant Col. H. D. Smith in Chatham Capt. Smith indicates that William was being transferred to the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry then attached to the BEF.
Major Bradley enlisted in the 1st Canadian Battalion at Chatham on Aug. 9, 1914 and sailed with them on the S.S. Laurentic for England in Oct. 1914.
He was attached to the 1st Canadian Divisional Headquarters, was granted a commission, and left for France in Sept. 1915 to assume the duties of secretary to Colonel Sir Max Aitken, Canadian Representative of War Records in France.
In a letter dated 11 Jan. 1915, from Camp Bustard, he was with the Divisional HQ Staff, Salisbury Plain, to Mrs. J. B. Rankin, Regent of the I.O.D.E in Chatham. Now Sergeant Bradley wrote, that “the Chatham boys in “E” Company of the 1st Battalion, 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Contingent”, were very grateful for the gifts and cigars sent by the ladies of the I.O.D.E. He went on to say that they would soon be moving to the front to, “Fight for Victory – the victory that shall bring peace to the earth again.
In a letter From George W. Moore 6 Sept. 1915, he mentions, “I hear Bill Bradley is to be married shortly. I expect to see him soon as I am to have a week’s pass to England.” Chatham Daily Planet 24/09/1915
He served at the front as a Sergeant where he earned his commission as a Lieutenant attached to the Divisional staff. He was transferred to a bombing section in France for some time before returning to England attached to staff headquarters as secretary to Colonel Sir Max Atkins. He was promoted to Captain before being returned to France as the Canadian representative of War Records. In April of 1916 he completed a course as an infantry officer and returned to France again to rejoin the 1st Battalion.
As a former Chatham Daily News staff member newly commissioned Lieut. Bill Bradley was writing to Clifford MORRICE, formerly with the “Fighting First”, now invalided home. “The letter follows: care of Canadian representative, general Headquarters, France, April 18, 1916. Dear Cliff, old soldier”.
Bill begins his letter by congratulating Clifford on, “getting a well earned rest and your new job.” [Clifford MORRICE had recently be given a job in the Post office]. William then goes on to say that he had recently made a visit to the, “the old first”, while there he met Fred SPURGEON (6743), “he showed me your photo. I begged it as a souvenir”.
He also mentioned meeting other ‘Chatham men’ on a visit to the 18th Bn. on the 17th of April. “Capt. McKEOUGH and Col. WIGLE”, he was also looking for Sergt. SWAINSBURY, when the order to “fall in” was sounded, unfortunately cutting his visit short.
This meeting was confirmed in a letter from Captain W. S. McKeough to his family dated 20/04/1916 where he asks “Do you remember Bill Bradley used to be with the News came over with the 1st div. to England. He came over last fall with a commission & has been working with Max Aitken (later Lord Beaverbrook) – a corking job.” From the “McKeough Letters” at page 352.
“As I walked down the old wooden ‘side walk’ (Duck boards), across a muddy field to a road that is “Somewhere in Belgium. I heard someone exclaim, “Well, by gosh!”. It was another old friend from Chatham, “Bombing Sergeant Fred ANSELL of the fighting First Battalion”.
The two old friends walked down the road together, “talked of the days of long ago, of King Street, Chatham and the Salisbury Plain, and of the boys of the old battalion.”
Lieut. Bradley closed his letter, wishing Cliff the best of luck and sends regards to his mother and to all of the, “friends back home”. A PS: – “You will be able to tell from the Official Canadian communiqués where the boys are now. B.B.” Chatham Daily Planet 9/05/1916.
The Chatham Daily Planet of 14 May reported that the name of Captain W. F. Bradley had appeared on the “official casualty list” and “among a number of officers killed in action” was Bill Bradley.
The telegram stated: Replying to your telegram states : Replying to your telegram of May 14th Capt. William Ferguson Bradley, killed in action May 3rd enlisted at Valcartier, September 22nd 1914, next of kin Robert J. Bradley, 324 Fore Street, Edmonton – London, England”.
The Rev. W. J. Spence, Rector of Holy Trinity Church of which Bradley was a member was “making enquiries of the military authorities” to determine if this was correct. “ Replying to your telegram of 14 th ay, Capt. William was killed in action 3rd May enlisted at at Vlalcartie, September 22nd, 1917 next of kin Robert J. Bradley 324 Fore Street, Edmonton, London, England He enlist at the beginning of the war. He served at the front with the rank of Sergeant.
He was later attached to the staff of the Canadian eye-witness, and was promoted as a Lieutenant commanded a bombing section in France.
The Rev W. J. Spence paid glowing tribute ti the bravery of the Chatham officer and his willingness in the early part of the struggle.
“Captain Bradley was one of our brightest and best young man. He had a promising future.
Captain Bradley was an Englishman and as far as is known had relatives in this country. He left with the First Battalion with the rank of Sergeant. He received his commission as a Lieutenant and was appointed to the staff of the Canadian official eye-witness. When he was promoted to a appointed to the staff of the Canadian official eye-witness.
A memorial service was held in the Holy Trinity Church on Sunday next. A large number of The News employees attended in body, together with City Council, representmembers of the Chatham City Football League and a ‘stong delegation of returned soldiers. The Rev. W. J. Spenceconducted a memorial service at Holy Trinity Church, the deceasrd officer was a former member. At Sunday next at four o’clock.
He was served at the front with a bombing section. He was returning to staff duties in England where he was promoted to a captaincy.
The regular mail of the day could not compete with the fateful telegraph message as can be seen in the following letter. “I saw Bill Bradley the other night. He is getting on alright.” Wrote RSM Robert WHITFIELD 6641 to Pte. Clifford Morrice 6709 in a letter dated the 19th of May. Chatham Daily Planet 7/06/191
He returned to England in Apr. 1916 and took a course in infantry officers training and joined the 1st Battalion in France in June 1916 where he served continuously with the battalion until killed in action at Fresnoy on the night of May 3rd 1917. He had been on active service for more than two years in France.
BRADLEY, WILLIAM FERGUSON Initials: W F Nationality: Canadian Rank: Major Regiment: Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regt.) Unit Text: 1st Bn. Age: 26 Date of Death: 03/05/1917 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: II. B. 5-7. Cemetery: ARRAS ROAD CEMETERY, ROCLINCOURT. Roclincourt was just within the British lines before the Battles of Arras, 1917; the 51st (Highland) and 34th Divisions advanced from the village on the 9th April, 1917, and the 1st Canadian Division attacked on their left, across the Lens Road.
His death was reported 16 May, 1917 in the Chatham Daily Planet by way of a telegram from Ottawa to Rev. W. J. Spence of Holy Trinity Church where Capt. Bradley was a member. The telegram stated: “Replying to your telegram of May 14th, Capt. William Ferguson Bradley, killed in action Mar 3rd , enlisted at Valcatier, September 22nd, 1914, next of kin Robert J. Bradley, 324 Fore Street, Edmonton, London, England.”
A memorial service for Captain Bradley was held on the afternoon of the 20th of May was held at Holy Trinity Church at which a large number of “News” employees were in attendance along with member of the Chatham City Council and Chatham City Football League of which William had been the secretary. There was also a “strong delegation of returned soldiers.”
See Attestation record BRADLEY W F copied. LAC-FMF.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Cenotaph | Chatham and Kent County Cenotaph - Chatham |
| Awards | MID |
| Sources | Chatham Daily Planet (06-02-1915), Chatham Daily Planet (30-11-1914), Chatham Daily Planet (09-05-1916), Chatham Daily Planet (14-05-1917), Chatham Daily Planet (16-05-1917), Chatham Daily Planet (21-05-1917), Centennial Chatham 1895-1995 - John Rhodes, CWGC |
| Supplemental Information | Brother: J. W. Bradley, Wimbleton London, S.W. England |
| Height | 5'10-1/2" |
| Eye Colour | blue |
| Age | 23 |
| Complexion | fair |
| Hair | fair |
| Race | white |
| Birthplace | Perth, Scotland |
| Last Place of Employment | Daily News, Chatham |
| Marital Status | single |
| When Enlisted | Aug. 9, 1914 |
| Where Enlisted | Chatham, Ontario |
Notice something wrong with this record? Or, do you have something to add? Report it using our online form.
