Neville Bell Bradford

Neville was the son of Kate Bell and the adopted son of Jim and Hannah Bradford (née Poxon). Neville was born in Awsworth, Nottinghamshire, on 15 March 1896 and baptised at Awsworth St Peter on 15 July the same year. Neville's adoptive father, Jim, was born in Pentrich, Derbyshire, in about 1873 and his adoptive mother, Hannah Poxon, in Awsworth in 1874, the daughter of John and Ann Poxon. Jim and Hannah were married at Basford Register Office in 1894. In 1901, Jim, a coal miner, Hannah and Neville (5) were living at Crown Street, Awsworth, with her parents, John and Ann Poxon. Neville's surname was recorded on the census as 'Bradford' and he was described as 'adopted child of daughter' (ie. Hannah). Jim, his wife and Neville were living at 47 Howard Road, Mansfield, by 1911. Also in the household were two boarders, James Bend, a coal miner, and his wife. At the time of Neville's death in 1915 the family was living on Somersall Street, Mansfield. Hannah Bradford died in 1927. Her husband Jim probably remarried in 1937 (Mary E Tyson) and was living in Warsop when the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled. There is a record of the death of a Jim Bradford, born about 1874, in 1956 (reg. Bingham).

1911 - colliery pony driver (underground). Member of the congregation of Mansfield St John.

Somersall Street, Mansfield. Enlisted Nottingham

2nd Bn Northumberland Fusiliers. The 2nd Battalion was serving in India at the outbreak of war but returned to the UK in December 1915 and came under the orders of 84th Brigade, 28th Division. The Battalion moved to the Western Front in January 1915 and took part in the Second Battle of Ypres (22 April 1915-25 May 1915). Neville served with the BEF France from 6 March 1915 and was killed in action less than three months later on 24th May 1915. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium (Panel 8 and 12). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (extract): 'The Menin Gate is one of four memorials to the missing in Belgian Flanders which cover the area known as the Ypres Salient. Broadly speaking, the Salient stretched from Langemarck in the north to the northern edge in Ploegsteert Wood in the south, but it varied in area and shape throughout the war. The Salient was formed during the First Battle of Ypres in October and November 1914, when a small British Expeditionary Force succeeded in securing the town before the onset of winter, pushing the German forces back to the Passchendaele Ridge. The Second Battle of Ypres began in April 1915 when the Germans released poison gas into the Allied lines north of Ypres. This was the first time gas had been used by either side and the violence of the attack forced an Allied withdrawal and a shortening of the line of defence. There was little more significant activity on this front until 1917.' (www.cwgc.org)

Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser: 17 June 1915: Member of St John's Church. Described by Rev. W Lilley, at the memorial service as "having a gentle courtesy and kindness of heart" and "He had a deep and sincere trust in our Heavenly Father. His example as a citizen and as a Christian was a noble one, and a good pattern for many of us." He had been confirmed into the Church of England by the Bishop of Durham. Report published on 18 June 1915 in the Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times :- “MEMORIAL SERVICE TO THE FALLEN. “ST. JOHN'S, MANSFIELD. “On Sunday afternoon [13th June 1915] a memorial service was held in St. John's Church to honour several parishioners who have fallen at the front. The service was attended by members of the Adult School, St John's C E.M.S., St John's and St. Andrew's B.P. Scouts, and many friends. Suitable hymns were sang, and the service, which consisted of the greater part of the burial service, was read by the Rev. W. Bunting, the lesson being read by the Rev. J. Ridgway. The Vicar (Rev. W. Lilley), gave a short address, in the course of which he referred to the noble example set by the men commemorated in obeying the call of duty to serve their King and country, and in giving their lives for that duty. He dealt particularly with Neville B. Bradford, of the Northumberland Fusiliers, who was a regular worshipper at St. John's, and pointed out how Bradford had endeared himself to all who knew him by his gentle courtesy and kindness of heart. He mentioned how keen Neville had been to be confirmed, and how unforeseen circumstances had prevented his obtaining his desire until after he had enlisted, when through the kind interest of a clergyman in the diocese of Durham, he was confirmed by the Bishop of Durham. The vicar said he had received many letters from him, and in all of them there was shown a deep and sincere trust in our Heavenly Father. His example as a citizen and as a Christian was a noble one, and a good pattern for many of us. The vicar also mentioned two other parishioners (Butler and Bert Shepherd), who had recently been killed at the front. The former was connected with St. Andrew's, and the latter had while at home devoted much time and thought and patience to the boys of Mansfield, being a conscientious and hard worker in connection with the local Scouts. At the close of the service the Dead March was played by Mr. T. W. Renshaw.” Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Nottingham Evening Post, 23 June 1915, photograph with caption: ‘Private N Bradford, 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers, Somersall St., Mansfield, aged 19, killed in action.’ Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his guardian, Mrs Hannah Bradford/Mrs Jim Bradford, was his sole legatee.