Memorial Details
Memorial
Plaque Bradford Bros. 1918, 1917 and 1917 Holy Trinity
Reference
D40.072
Place
DARLINGTON
Map ref
NZ 28?14?
Original Location
Holy Trinity Church, Woodland Road. In North aisle.
Which war
1914-18
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
Unveiled 11th November 1921 by Capt. T. Bradford, D.S.O., the only survivor of four brothers.
Memorial Description
Plaque 1 foot 6 inches high x 2 feet 2 inches wide (457mm x 660mm) mounted on wood pattress 2 feet high x 2 feet 6 inches wide (609mm x 751mm). There is a wide border of vine leaves and grapes culminating in a square patterned in red in each corner. The lettering is in Gothic lower case with the quotation in sans serif capitals.
Materials used
Brass plaque on oak pattress
Inscription
in memory of three brothers
Lieut Commander George Nicholson Bradford, V.C.
Royal Navy, Aged 31
who fell in action on the Mole, Zeebrugge
------ April 23rd 1918 ------
Lieutenant James Barker Bradford M.C.
The Durham Light Infantry. Aged 27
who died in France of wounds received in action.
------ May 14th 1917 ------
Brig. General Roland Boys Bradford V.C., M.C.
The Durham Light Infantry. Aged 25
who fell in action in France November 30th 1917
“Abide with me”
Names
See above
Who commissioned
Family
How money was raised
Family
Notes
1. "A gift of £1,000 in memory of the three brothers of the Bradford Family who fell in the war was used as the nucleus of a fund to rid the church of pew rents". Church booklet
2. Mrs. Bradford had been sent a picture by her son Roland of Christ and a soldier with the words "Abide with me". Roland had ordered 12,000 copies of the picture from a publisher to be given to each man in his brigade, but died before this order was completed. Mrs. Bradford carried out her son’s wishes after his death and the following Christmas each man received a copy. This was why she had chosen "Abide with me" to be quoted on her son’s memorial.
3. Brigadier General Bradford and his brothers are also remembered at Darlington on D40.060, D40.069, D40.073 and at Witton Park W125.09.
2. Mrs. Bradford had been sent a picture by her son Roland of Christ and a soldier with the words "Abide with me". Roland had ordered 12,000 copies of the picture from a publisher to be given to each man in his brigade, but died before this order was completed. Mrs. Bradford carried out her son’s wishes after his death and the following Christmas each man received a copy. This was why she had chosen "Abide with me" to be quoted on her son’s memorial.
3. Brigadier General Bradford and his brothers are also remembered at Darlington on D40.060, D40.069, D40.073 and at Witton Park W125.09.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photo: C. Sanders
Northern Echo 12/4/1919 reports proposal and donation of £1,000; 12/11/1921 reports unveiling.
Darlington and Stockton Times 12/11/1921 reports unveiling.
Parish of Holy Trinity, Darlington, 150th anniversary recollections, 1838-1958 Ed. Maurice Wedgwood, Published 1989 by Vicar, Churchwardens and Parochial Church Council of Holy Trinity Church, Darlington.
Durham Town and Country Issue 54 Spring 2006 carries an article on VCs from County Durham.
The Monumental Brasses of County Durham William Lack, H. Martin Stuchfield and Philip Whittemore 2002 ISBN 095 4327101
Beyond Praise: The Durham Light Infantrymen who were awarded the Victoria Cross; Stephen D. Shannon; County Durham Books, 1998; ISBN 1 897585 44 6
Source of quotation:
“Abide with me” Hymn by Henry Lyte
Northern Echo 12/4/1919 reports proposal and donation of £1,000; 12/11/1921 reports unveiling.
Darlington and Stockton Times 12/11/1921 reports unveiling.
Parish of Holy Trinity, Darlington, 150th anniversary recollections, 1838-1958 Ed. Maurice Wedgwood, Published 1989 by Vicar, Churchwardens and Parochial Church Council of Holy Trinity Church, Darlington.
Durham Town and Country Issue 54 Spring 2006 carries an article on VCs from County Durham.
The Monumental Brasses of County Durham William Lack, H. Martin Stuchfield and Philip Whittemore 2002 ISBN 095 4327101
Beyond Praise: The Durham Light Infantrymen who were awarded the Victoria Cross; Stephen D. Shannon; County Durham Books, 1998; ISBN 1 897585 44 6
Source of quotation:
“Abide with me” Hymn by Henry Lyte
External web link
Links to Source Material :
Additional Research documents (click to download)
Research acknowledgements
C. Sanders; Dorothy Hall
Research In Progress
Stephen Nicholson is researching the names on this memorial
Contact: nicholson_stephen2@sky.com.
Contact: nicholson_stephen2@sky.com.
Plaque Bradford Bros. 1918, 1917 and 1917 Holy Trinity (D40.072)
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Parish Notes
Every Name A Story
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