George Harold Bradley

George Harold (also known as Harold) was born at Redhill, Arnold in 1893, the son of Henry Saxton a wheelwright and Ellen Bradley,née Lovatt they lived at Redhill, Arnold, Nottingham. His father Henry was born in 1858 at Redhill , his mother Ellen was born at Duffield, Derbyshire, they were married on 17th October 1883 in Duffield, Derbyshire and went on to have 6 children , however 1 died in infancy prior to 1911, their children were Arthur b1885, Gertrude b1886, Harold b1893, Elizabeth b1894 and Nellie b1895. In the 1911 census we find him and the family living at Redhill, he is referred to only as 'Harold' he is 18 yrs of age , single and is employed as a cabinet maker, he is living with his father Henry 53 yrs a wheelwright and his mother Ellen 56yrs and his siblings , Arthur 26 yrs a wheelwright, Gertrude 25 yrs a dress maker and Nellie 16yrs.

He was a cabinet maker and later a professional soldier

George enlisted at Nottingham on 11th April 1913 into the Grenadier Guards prior to the outbreak of the war as a regular soldier being posted to their 2nd Battalion . His battalion was with the first of the British Army to go to France and Flanders with the original British Expeditionary Force, later to be known as “The Old Contemptibles” .On September 14th the battalion crossed the river Aine at Pont Anrchy and then moved to Soupir where they came under heavy artillery fire and were attacked by dense masses of Germans. There is some confusion as to the exact date of his death and Commonwealth War Graves show him as having been killed between the 14th and 16th of September 1914.He was buried in Vailly British cemetery , Soissons, France

Death notice published 14th September 1914 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “BRADLEY. – In loving memory of our dear brother, George Harold Bradley, of Redhill, killed in action September 14th, 1914. – Albert and Gerty. “BRADLEY. – In loving memory of George Harold Bradley, 2nd Grenadier Guards, killed at Soupir, September 14th-15th, 1914. He gave his life for his country. – Father, mother, brother, and sisters.” Above are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918