BRADLEY, Walter
No. G/14533, Private, Walter William C. BRADLEY
Aged 32
1st Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment
formerly 18185 - Rifle Brigade
Killed in Action on Thursday 2nd November, 1916
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Born in Exning in Q4-1883 [Newmarket 3b:532], son of George and Sarah A. BRADLEY (née RAWLINSON?) of North End, Exning.
His father appears to have died in 1886.
1891 census...at North End, Exning, were Walter [7], his mother (widow) Sarah [45] domestic cook, born Exning, his brother George [14], born Newmarket and his sister Lovina [10], born Newmarket 1901 census...at 1 Alresford Cottages, Exning, were Walter, an agricultural labourer, his mother (now married to Charles LEVETT [49] an agricultural labourer born Exning, and Walter's sister Lovina 1911 census...at 46 Este Road, Battersea were Walter [28] now an insurance agent, and his brother George ( a drapers assistant), lodging with Robert and Rose Wale. Walter's mother died in 1913. No pension card has been found |
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He enlisted in Camberwell. Two years before his death, on 1st Nov 1914, the 1st Battalion had been reduced to only 32 survivors. At the end of October 1916,
the battalion were occupying bivouacs between Bernafay Wood and Trones Wood. On the 30th they were ordered towards the front line near Guillemont.
The weather was very poor and the state of the battlefield truly reflected this. Preparatory orders were issued to the effect that on the 3rd November the 1st
Queen's would attack a trench known as Baritska Trench. The battalion moved up into its positions at 4.15pm, but the difficult conditions meant that some
elements took up to nine hours to reach their positions. The men were forced to stand in trenches with water above their knees, and had to be dug out of the
mud after remaining stationary for any time. The link will take you to the Battalion War Diary. No casualties are mention on 2nd, maybe he was one missing on previous day |
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details