Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British War Medal 1914-20 (23-693 Pte. R. Bradley. North’d Fus.) edge bruise, very fine £300-£400

Patrick Bradley was born in Felling-on-Tyne, Gateshead, and attested for the Northumberland Fusiliers at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He served with the 23rd (4th Tyneside Scottish) Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 1916, and was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, on which date the Battalion, alongside the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Tyneside Scottish Battalion, as part of the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division, was tasked with attacking the German positions at La Boisselle. They attacked south of the village at 7:30 a.m. and were met with heavy machine gun and shell fire. The tremendous casualties suffered by the four Tyneside Scottish battalions were among the worst ever recorded on the Somme, with losses including all 4 Commanding Officers killed and all second in commands and adjutants. Of the 80 officers that went into action only 10 returned, and of the men some 80 per cent became casualties, with 940 other ranks killed and some 1,500 wounded.

Bradley was amongst those killed, aged just 20. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.