Edward Kinder Bradbury
Encyclopedia
Captain Edward Kinder Bradbury VC
(16 August 1881 – 1 September 1914) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth
forces.
Bradbury was an officer in the British Army
during the First World War where as second-in-command of L Battery, Royal Horse Artillery he led the battery during an engagement at Néry
during the Retreat from Mons on 1 September 1914, where he was killed in action
. For the gallantry at Néry, he and two other men were awarded the Victoria Cross.
as a second lieutenant
in 1900. He was promoted to full lieutenant in April 1901, and in January 1902 was seconded for service with the Imperial Yeomanry
in the Second Boer War
, serving as a lieutenant with the 31st Battalion. He returned from the secondment in November that year, and was posted to 127th Battery RFA.
In early 1905 he was seconded to duties with the Foreign Office, during which time he appears to have served with the King's African Rifles
. He returned to a regimental post in 1907, received his captaincy in 1910, and became an adjutant
in February 1912, returning to normal duties in November.
Bradbury rode his horse "Sloppy Weather" in the 1909 Royal Artillery Gold Cup, coming third; another of his horses, "Hot Water", competed in the 1911 Punchestown Festival, again coming third.
(Royal Artillery
), British Army
during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 1 September 1914 at Néry
, France, during a fierce attack by the enemy, when all the officers of 'L' Battery were either killed or wounded, Captain Bradbury along with Sergeant Major Dorrell
and Sergeant Nelson, continued the lone resistance against the German attack. Although having had one leg taken off by a shell while fetching ammunition, Bradbury continued to direct the fire of the battery until he died.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum
in London, England.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(16 August 1881 – 1 September 1914) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Bradbury was an officer in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the First World War where as second-in-command of L Battery, Royal Horse Artillery he led the battery during an engagement at Néry
Action at Néry
Néry is set in a north-south oriented valley around a small river, which feeds into the River Autonne to the north; it is overlooked from the east and west by high bluffs. The main landmark was a sugar factory, just south of the village, where L Battery were billeted; the cavalry regiments were...
during the Retreat from Mons on 1 September 1914, where he was killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
. For the gallantry at Néry, he and two other men were awarded the Victoria Cross.
Early career
Born in August 1881, Bradbury attended the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, as a cadet, passing out to join the Royal ArtilleryRoyal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in 1900. He was promoted to full lieutenant in April 1901, and in January 1902 was seconded for service with the Imperial Yeomanry
Imperial Yeomanry
The Imperial Yeomanry was a British volunteer cavalry regiment that mainly saw action during the Second Boer War. Officially created on 24 December 1899, the regiment was based on members of standing Yeomanry regiments, but also contained a large contingent of mid-upper class English volunteers. In...
in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
, serving as a lieutenant with the 31st Battalion. He returned from the secondment in November that year, and was posted to 127th Battery RFA.
In early 1905 he was seconded to duties with the Foreign Office, during which time he appears to have served with the King's African Rifles
King's African Rifles
The King's African Rifles was a multi-battalion British colonial regiment raised from the various British possessions in East Africa from 1902 until independence in the 1960s. It performed both military and internal security functions within the East African colonies as well as external service as...
. He returned to a regimental post in 1907, received his captaincy in 1910, and became an adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
in February 1912, returning to normal duties in November.
Bradbury rode his horse "Sloppy Weather" in the 1909 Royal Artillery Gold Cup, coming third; another of his horses, "Hot Water", competed in the 1911 Punchestown Festival, again coming third.
First World War
Bradbury was 33 years old, and a Captain in the 'L' Bty., Royal Horse ArtilleryRoyal Horse Artillery
The regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
(Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
), British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 1 September 1914 at Néry
Néry
Néry is a small village in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.. The commune includes the hamlets of Huleux, Vaucelles and Verrines. The Church of Saint-Martin in Néry dates from 1140 with later additions. The Manoir de Huleux was built in 1550...
, France, during a fierce attack by the enemy, when all the officers of 'L' Battery were either killed or wounded, Captain Bradbury along with Sergeant Major Dorrell
George Thomas Dorrell
Lieutenant-Colonel George Thomas Dorrell VC, MBE was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
and Sergeant Nelson, continued the lone resistance against the German attack. Although having had one leg taken off by a shell while fetching ammunition, Bradbury continued to direct the fire of the battery until he died.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
in London, England.