Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War D.S.M. awarded to Chief Petty Officer Mechanician 2nd Grade W. E. Bradley, Royal Naval Air Service, who died in a flying accident on 10 December 1916

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (F.3646 W. E. Bradley, C.P.O. Mechn. 2Gr. R.N.A.S. Aug-Dec. 1916) good very fine
£800-1000

D.S.M. London Gazette 1 October 1917. ‘The following awards have been approved to men of the Royal Naval Air Service for services on patrol duties and submarine searching in Home Waters.’

Walter Edwin Bradley was born in Bradford, Yorkshire on 30 April 1893. A Wireless Telegraphist by occupation, he entered the Royal Naval Air Service with the rank of Chief Petty Officer on 30 March 1915 based at H.M.S. President. By April he was flying in Sopwith “Spinning Jenny” two-seater scout biplanes from out of Westgate, Kent. Later awarded the D.S.M. for his services in anti-submarine patrols, August-December 1916. He died in a flying accident on 10 December 1916. His Short 184 seaplane dived out of control into the sea from a considerable height while on patrol near Tongue. Both Flight Lieutenant J. D. Hume and C.P.O. Mech. Bradley were killed. Bradley’s body was recovered and buried in Sheerness Cemetery on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent. With copied service paper and some other research.