Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Battle of the Somme’ M.M. pair awarded to Private A. E. Bradford, ‘B’ (1st Eccles Pals) Company, 16th (2nd Salford Pals) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, who was killed in action during his Battalion’s first attack at the Battle of the Somme, on the night of 1-2 July 1916

Military Medal, G.V.R. (11376 Pte. A. E. Bradford. 16/Lanc. Fus.); 1914-15 Star (11376 Pte. A. E. Bradford. Lan. Fus.) nearly extremely fine (2) £400-£500

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, February 1999.

M.M. London Gazette 19 February 1917.

Albert Edward Bradford was born in Patricroft, Lancashire, in 1894, and attested for the Lancashire Fusiliers at Eccles, Lancashire. He served with the ‘B’ (1st Eccles Pals) Company, 16th (2nd Salford Pals) Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 23 November 1915, and was killed in action during the Battalion’s first attack in the Battle of the Somme, during the night of 1-2 July 1916. The attack was a failure, and the battalion suffered total casualties of 9 officers and 177 other ranks killed or wounded.

A local newspaper cutting from the time state: ‘Mr. Wm. T. Bradford, of Patricroft, has received from the military authorities the Military Medal, awarded to his deceased son for bravery on the battlefield. The late Private A. E. Bradford, who was killed in the first big push of the Somme battle on July 1st-2nd, was a member of the First Eccles Pals’ Company of the Lancashire Fusiliers, and previous to enlisting was employed as a butcher by the Eccles Co-operative Society. Deceased was 24 years of age. Major Tweed, writing to the father, stated that Pte. Bradford was killed in performing an act of gallantry which was worthy of the good fellow he was. In the attack on July 1st Major Tweed, who was the only officer of the Company not a casualty, came across a large party of his men in shell holes, momentarily dazed by the heavy shelling and machine gun fire. Calling upon them to rally and continue the advance, Bradford - all his non-commissioners were casualties - sprang up and called upon the men to follow the Major. His example, courage and leadership were just what was wanted at the minute, and he was not seen afterwards, but, adds Major Tweed, “he died a very gallant gentleman, and all who knew him regret his death”.’

For his gallantry during the attack on the night of 1-2 July 1916, in calling his men to move forward at a crucial moment, Bradford was awarded a posthumous Military Medal. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. His date of death is formally recorded as 2 July 1916.

Sold with a photographic image of the recipient; the remains of a Lancashire Fusiliers cap badge; and copied research.