Pte 50226 Robert Bradley

Robert Bradley was born on 21st September 1885 at 38 Baines Street Blackburn to Stafford born cotton weaver Robert George Bradley and his Blackburn born wife Rosannah (nee Thornley). They married in the June quarter of 1863 in Blackburn and had nine Children ( six girls and three 3 boys). Robert was their ninth child.

 

It appears that Robert was born on the same day that his father died aged 47. Robert was baptised at All Saints Church, Blackburn on the 04th October 1885.

 

The April 1891 Census shows him aged 5 living with his widowed mother Rosannah at 38 Baines Street Blackburn. Also present are six of his siblings, all born in Blackburn and listed as; Charlotte aged 23 and a cotton weaver, Mary A. aged 15 a cotton weaver, Ann aged 13 a cotton creeler, John W. aged 11 a cotton weaver, Richard aged 9 and Jane aged 7.   

 

By April 1901 the Census shows Robert aged 15 and now a Grocers Assistant living at 11 Pilkington Street Blackburn with his widowed mother and five siblings: Mary A., John W., Richard, Jane and Ann who is now married to James H. Bracken who also resides at the property.  

 

On the 17th January 1904 when he was aged 18 he marries 18 year old Blackburn girl Lily Marsden at All Saints Church in Blackburn. Robert is shown as a grocer's assistant.  

 

On 16th June 1904 their first of three children is born; a daughter Ellen

 

On the 19 November 1908 their second child a son Robert was born.

The 1911 Census finds the family living at 117 Mosley Street, Blackburn. Both are now 25 years of age and advise that they have been married for seven years and have two children Ellen and Robert. 

 

Robert was conscripted in Blackburn as Private 37978 joining the East Lancashire Regiment.

A small draft of East Lancashire Regiment soldiers who conscripted in March 1917 and "graduated" into the East Lancashire Regiment but did not serve overseas with that unit. The 15 recruits, all of similar background (East Lancashire Regimental numbers, age and geography) appear on an alpha-numeric list created at 30 IBD, Etaples in June 1917 where they received new numbers. Those with surnames A-L (became 50224-50258) and went to 17th Battalion King's (Liverpool Regiment) and those with surnames M-Z (became 50259-50293) and went to 20th Battalion King's (Liverpool Regiment).

He transferred as Private 50226 joining the 17th (Pals) Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment before a further transfer to the 4th Battalion of K.L.R.  

 

On 25th October 1918, Robert aged 33 died of his wounds incurred in action on 06th October 1918.

 

He now rests at Awoingt British Cemetery in France.

Awoingt British Cemetery was begun in the latter half of October 1918 and used until the middle of December; the village had been captured on 9/10 October. By 28 October, the 38th, 45th and 59th Casualty Clearing Stations were posted in the neighbourhood, and the great majority of the burials were made from those hospitals, but 16 graves in Plot III, Row H, and Plot V, were brought in after the Armistice from the country immediately surrounding the village. Awoingt British Cemetery contains 653 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War, including a special memorial to one casualty whose grave in the cemetery cannot now be found. The cemetery also contains 63 war graves of other nationalities, most of them German.

His death was reported in the Ormskirk Advertiser on 14th November 1918:

Mr and Mrs Bradley of 6 Witham Road, Skelmersdale have received the sad news of the death of their third son, Pte R. Bradley, King's Liverpool Regt, who died of wounds received in action on October 6th last. He was 33 years of age and enlisted in March 1916. Formerly he was employed by the Skelmersdale Urban District Council. This is the second son who has paid the supreme sacrifice, two other son's are still serving, one having been twice wounded. 

He left a widow and three children at 81 Rockcliffe Street, Blackburn. 

 

His widow Lily received his Army Pay arrears of £17:16s::4d which included a £9 War Gratuity on 17/02/1919.  A further award of 4s:9d was sent on 30/05/1919

Lily also claimed the Dependents Pension for herself and the 3 children.
 

In December Quarter 1923 she remarried to widower William Heywood and moved to Blackpool. 

Lily died in the June quarter of 1958 aged 72.