Tags
Bilston, Dudley, Ettingshall, Express & Star, First World War, France, John Thompson Ltd, Joseph Bradford, Lancashire Fusiliers, Lanesfield Council School, Midland Counties Express, Parkfield Road, Rough Hills, St Saviour's School, Star Japan Works
The son of John and Emily Bradford, Joseph was born in Dudley on 10 October 1897. In 1901 they were living at Rough Hills in Bilston, along with Joseph’s sister, Mary Fellows. He first attended Lanesfield Council School and in 1909 started at St Saviour’s Junior School in Ettingshall, Wolverhampton. He began working at John Thompson’s boiler works in Ettingshall. In 1911, when they were living at 47 Parkfield Road, his employment is described as “Weighing down in Boiler Works”. Later Joseph worked at the Star Japan Works in Bilston. As a boy, he had also worked for the Express & Star.
Joseph served with the 18th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers (service number 16787), and was killed on 28 May 1916. His Lieutenant wrote a letter home to his parents, stating that Joseph had volunteered to go over the parapet to repair barbed wire, when he was hit in the left side by a bullet. His mother was living at 539 Parkfield Road, Wolverhampton. He is honoured in the Midland Counties Express on 2 December 1916, and remembered as “a plucky chap” and a “good soldier” who was “loved by all”. He is buried in the Rue-Des-Berceaux Military Cemetery in Richebourg-L’Avoue in France.
Wolverhampton's War 