Charles Alderman Bradley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Charles Alderman was born in St Mary's parish, Nottingham in 1890. His middle name of Alderman came from his grandfather Alderman Bradley. He was the second son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Bradley née Doggett of 6, Campbell Grove, Robin Hood Street, Nottingham. His father Benjamin was born in 1866 in Chard, Somerset, but he and his family moved to Nottingham between 1871 and 1881. His mother Elizabeth had also been born in 1866 in Nottingham, their marriage is recorded in the Nottingham Registration district in 1887, they went on to have 8 children, sadly one died in infancy or childhood prior to 1911. Their children were: - Mary A b1886, Benjamin b1888, Charles Alderman b1890, Frederick b1893, May b1895, Alice b1897 and Ethel b1899. All the children were born in Nottingham. In the 1911 census the family are living at 6 Campbell Grove, Nottingham and are shown as Benjamin 45 yrs head of the family a bobbin and carriage maker, he is living with his wife Elizabeth 45 yrs and their children Frederick 18 yrs a bobbin carriage maker, May 16 yrs a lace worker, Alice 14 yrs an errand girl and Ethel 12 yrs a scholar. Charles was a serving soldier by 1911.
Charles was on 'old contemptible' having joined the Army in Nottingham on 17th June 1908 and would still have been serving at the outbreak of the Great War. His medal index card shows he disembarked in France on 8th September 1914. He was wounded in action and was brought back to England for treatment but died of those wounds in No. 2 Western General Manchester Military Hospital on 13th October 1914. His body was returned to his family in Nottingham and he was buried with full military honours on 17th October 1914 at the Nottingham General Cemetery.
Article from the Nottingham Evening Post dated 17th 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 article is curtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
