Memorial

Plaque Bradford Bros. 1918, 1917 and 1917 Holy Trinity

Darlington

Memorial Name: Plaque Bradford Bros. 1918, 1917 and 1917 Holy Trinity (D40.072)

NEWMP Ref No.: D40.072

Parish: Darlington

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.

Materials Used:

Brass plaque on oak pattress

Who Commissioned:

Family

Inscription:

To the Glory of God and
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”

Memorial Description:

Plaque 18 inches high x 26 inches wide (46cms x 66cms) mounted on wood pattress 24 inches high x 30 inches wide (61cms x 75cms).

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.

Names:

See above

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.

Sources:

Photos: C. Sanders; Paul Boden

Darlington and Stockton Times
12/11/1921 reports unveiling.

Northern Echo
12/4/1919 reports proposal and donation of £1,000;
12/11/1921 reports unveiling.

Durham Town and Country
Issue 54 Spring 2006 carries an article on VCs from County Durham.

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.

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