James and Joannah Bradford

Photo: Geordie at War Project

Brenda McMahon submitted the following :-

James William was born 31 October 1889 at Crowden Hill, Ulgham in Northumberland. He was the son of George Marshall Bradford, a general labourer and Mary Ann nee Watson.

The 1891 census shows the family including Elizabeth (b 1881), Margaret Jane (b 1886) and baby James still living at Ulgham. Also there was a family member of Mary Ann ie Dorothy Watson visiting the house on census night. By September quarter of 1891 his sister Elizabeth had died aged 10 of tubercular meningitis.

In 1901 the census taken on 31 March 1901 shows the family in dire straits. The record shows no sign of Mary Ann but James is living in Alnwick Union Workhouse aged just 11. On 24 March just a few days before the census was taken his father, George, succumbed to epilepsy. He died at the age of 50. Both James and his father were listed as paupers. There is also a Margaret Bradford listed in the workhouse records but her age is given as 75 years. A family member has added a transcription error report on Ancestry as the information shown is incorrect. In fact Margaret was aged about 15 not 75.

By January 1911 Margaret had also died from cardiac failure, exhaustion and hysteria. She was living and working in Gateshead as a domestic servant at the time of her death.

James enlisted into the army on 20 November 1907 aged 18 years. He was successful in his chosen career eventually attaining the rank of Company Sergeant Major.

On 24 August 1913 James, a motor driver married Joannah Bell, a domestic servant, at Christ Church Gateshead. James lived at 32 Ripon Street whilst Joannah lived at 22 Hartington Street. These two streets are very near each other, in fact, both are just off Prince Consort Road so the couple were almost neighbours. The couple had two children. James Edwin (1914 – 1983) and Olga Iris (1920 – 1922).

James army service continued until 20 September 1918 when he was discharged due to ill health. He was awarded the Silver War Badge having been released from active service on account of being permanently unfit. James died at his home at 2 Stanhope Street, on 2 February 1921 aged 31 years. The cause of death was given as pulmonary tuberculosis. His wife, Joannah, was present at his death. The death certificate showed him as being a tram car motorman and army pensioner.

A reliable source informs that CSM Bradford was the last Great War soldier in Gateshead to be afforded the honour of a full military funeral.

James is not shown on any North East Memorial.

The CWGC entry for Company Sergeant Major Bradford