Charles Alderman Bradley
pre-1908 - general labourer
17 June 1908 - enlisted in the Army (2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters)
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Charles Alderman was the second son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Bradley (née Doggett, also Duggitt/Duckett on civil records). His middle name of Alderman came from his paternal grandfather, Alderman Bradley.
Benjamin Bradley was born in 1866 in Chard, Somerset, but he and his family moved to Nottingham between 1871 and 1881. His wife Elizabeth was born in Nottingham, also in 1866. Benjamin and Elizabeth were married at Sneinton St Philip on 12 February 1887.
According to the information provided on the 1911 Census, the couple had eight children, one of whom died in infancy or childhood: Mary Ann Duggitt (later known as Bradley) b. February 1886 bap. St John Leenside (Nottingham) on 20 June 1886, mother Elizabeth Duggitt of 1 Rick Yard (registration of birth not yet traced); Benjamin b. February 1888 bap. Nottingham St Mary 14 November 1890; Charles Alderman b. 3 March 1890 bap. St Mary 14 November 1890; Frederick James b. 1892 bap. St Mary September 1892; May b. December 1894 (reg. 1895 JFM), Alice birth registered 1897 JFM and Ethel b. October 1900 bap. Sneinton St Philip 7 November 1900. The child who died in infancy was probably named Ethel b. 1898 (reg. OND) d. October 1898.
Benjamin and Elizabeth were living at 4 Commerce Place in 1890 when their sons Benjamin and Charles were baptised and at 10 Commerce Place when Frederick was baptised in 1892. The 1900 record of Ethel's baptism gave their address as 3 Sun Street, Sneinton, and this was the address recorded on the census the following year. All seven children were still living with their parents; only the eldest, Mary, was in work and she was an errand girl (lace company). There was also a boarder in the household, Elizabeth Keeling (61 b. London, single), who died in 1905.
Charles joined the Army in 1908 by which time the family had moved to 6 Campbell Grove, where Benjamin and Elizabeth were still living in 1911 along with four of their children: Frederick who, like his father, was a bobbin and carriage maker, May a lace worker, Alice an errand girl and Ethel who was at school. Two of their children were now married: Mary Ann [Mary Ann Doggett Bradley] of Mount Street, Heanor, had married George Frederick Brown, a miner, also of Heanor, at Heanor parish church in June 1907. Benjamin of 16 Gadde Yard married Florrie Grace Merrin of 15 Gadde Yard at Nottingham St Mary in April 1909 and in 1911 Benjamin, a carriage trimmer, and Florrie, a machinist together with their infant son, Benjamin, were living at 7 Plumtree Terrace.
Elizabeth Bradley completed a form for the Army in April 1919 naming her late son Charles' surviving relatives; she signed the form with her mark.
Parents: Benjamin and Elizabeth Bradley, 6 Campbell Grove Nottingham.
Brothers: Benjamin Bradley (31), 7 Plumptre Terrace off Carter Gate. Frederick James (26) 8 Curtis Terrace, Curtis Street.
Sisters: Margaret-sic Brown (33), 8 Barrack Yard, Heanor. May Glover (24), 37 Campbell Grove. Alice Ward (22), 1 Clarence Street. Ethel Bradley (20), 6 Campbell Grove.
Benjamin and Elizabeth were recorded on the 1921 Census at 6 Cambell Grove. Living with them were their youngest daughter Ethel and her husband Harold Hallam (m. 1921 JFM) both of whom were in work; Ethel a machinist (Dean blouse maker) and Harold a labourer (Nottingham Corporation). Also in the household was Milly Keeling (b. 1904 JAS Nottm), also a blouse machinist, and described on the census as Benjamin and Elizabeth's adopted daughter.
May had married Harry Glover at Nottingham St Paul in February 1915, both were living at 12 East Street at the time of their marriage. The youngest son, Frederick, had married Lottie M Parfitt in 1916. Alice married Frederick G Ward in 1918 and in 1921 they were living with Frederick's parents on Clarence Street, Nottingham.
Benjamin Bradley snr. died in 1932 aged 66.
In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, his widow was living with their married daughter Mary Ann Brown and her husband George on Fall Road, Heanor.
Elizabeth probably died in 1948 (JFM). Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 11 March 1948: 'Bradley. March 7th, Elizabeth, 5 Eastcroft-yard, passed away, City Hospital. Memories live on, unto eternity they shall not fade. Loving family. Cremation 12 o’clock, Friday, Wilford Hill.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Elizabeth was survived by six of her children: Mary Ann (Brown prob. d. 1961), Benjamin (d. 1949), Frederick James (d. 1977), May (Glover d. 1980), Alice (d. 1977) and Ethel (Hallam d. 1988).
Charles joined the Army in Nottingham on 17 June 1908 on a Short Service Engagement (7 years with the Colours, 5 years in the Reserve) and serving continuously until his death in October 1914. He was aged 18y 4m when he enlisted, trade general labourer. Charles named his parents of 6 Campbell Grove and his brothers Benjamin and Frederick of 24 Upper Eldon Street, Sneinton, as his next of kin.
He served with the 2nd. Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) on Home service from 17 June 1908 to 7 September 1914 and then with the BEF France from 8 September 1914. His Army service record has details of two separate admissions to hospital in Fermoy, Ireland, in 1910 and one hospital admission (Devonport) in 1911 and again in 1912 when he was posted with the Battalion at Crownhill Barracks, Plympton, Devon.
Arthur disembarked France on 8 September 1914. He was wounded in action and medically evacuated to England for treatment but died of his wounds at No. 2 Western General Manchester Military Hospital on 13 October 1914.
His body was returned to his family in Nottingham and on 17 October he was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery with full military honours.
Served 6 years 119 days. Qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. The 1914 Star was also known as the 'Mons Star'. This 'was issued to British forces who had served in France or Belgium from 5 August 1914 (the declaration of war) to midnight 22 November 1914 (the end of the First Battle of Ypres). These were soldiers that were there at the very beginning of the war and so it was primarily awarded to the 'Old Contemptibles', the professional pre-war soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force.The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit were impressed on the back. Some medals have a horizontal metal bar worn on the ribbon and inscribed '5th Aug.-22nd Nov. 1914', this distinguished those who had served under enemy fire.' (www.iwm.org.uk/history/first-world-war-service-medals)
Charles's brother, Benjamin, may also have served in the War. Medal Rolls index card: Benjamin Bradley, 20744 Private Sherwood Foresters, BEF France 26 May 1915, discharged 27 November 1916. 1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
CWGC Additional information: Son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Bradley, of 6, Campbell Grove, Robin Hood St., Nottingham.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'In fond memory'
Nottingham Evening Post, 17 October 1914
'SHERWOOD FORESTER’S FUNERAL. GREAT CROWD AT THE GENERAL CEMETERY.
'Perhaps the biggest crowd ever seen in the General Cemetery, Nottingham, attended the funeral to-day [17th October 1914] of Private Charles Bradley, 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters, who died from wounds in the Manchester Military Hospital. Deceased was the second son of Ben and Elisabeth Bradley, of 6, Campbell-grove, and was 24 years of age.
'The funeral procession from the house was witnessed by great numbers of people, the cortège being preceded by a firing party, with arms reversed, from the South Notts. Hussars under Sergeant J. T. Smith. The Union Jack was folded around the coffin, the hearse being surmounted by several wreaths, including one from his regiment, and another from the Old Comrades’ Association.
'There were 24 relatives present, including Private Bradley's father and mother, also wounded soldiers from the hospital, and Sherwood Foresters on leave from India. The firing of the volley and the sounding of the “Last Post” made a deep impression upon the immense gathering, the scene at the grave side, where the Rev. E. A. Simms (chaplain) officiated, being memorable.”
Above courtesy Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
Nottingham Evening Post, 15 October 1914, photograph with caption, ‘A Nottingham Private. C. Bradley, 2nd Sherwood Foresters, died of wounds in hospital in Manchester, Oct. 13th.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 13 October 1915: notices (1) from mother & father, brothers and sisters, and (2) from brother and sister, Harry and May [Glover].
WW1 Pension Ledgers: named his father Benjamin, 6 Campbell Grove.
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father was his legatee.
Additional research/record updated: RF (Dec. 2025)
Charles Alderman Bradley
Studio photograph, courtesy of Dennis Weston
Charles Bradley
Buried in Nottingham General Cemetery, Nottingham. Photograph courtesy of Peter Gillings