‘Twice in less than 23 years, Natal was saved from invasion by the gallant stand made by two small, vastly outnumbered detachments of British soldiers: the first was at Rorke’s Drift in 1879 and the second at Itala in 1901.’

M. C. Carter’s Itala - Monument to Valour, refers (South African Military History Society Journal, June 1971).

‘It is interesting to note that Major Bradley was a member of ‘the world’s most exclusive club’ - a club to which even His Majesty could not belong. It is the ‘V.C.D. Club’, with a membership of three, to which only those possessing the V.C. and the V.D. are entitled to be members. The other two members are Lieutenant A. Martin-Leake, R.A.M.C., and Surgeon John Crimmin, Indian Medical Services.’

The Patriot, May 1943, refers.

The unique and outstanding Boer War V.C. group of ten awarded to Hon. Major F. H. Bradley, Colonial Auxiliary Forces, late Royal Field Artillery, who was decorated for his supreme courage as a Driver in 69th Battery, R.F.A. at the defence of Fort Itala on 26 September 1901: making his way uphill, across 150 yards of ground ‘swept by a heavy cross fire’, he delivered vital ammunition to his hard-pushed comrades - such was the perilous nature of his daring exploit that it is said he knelt in prayer beside a bush before braving the enemy’s fire

Victoria Cross (Driver F. G. Bradley, 69th Battery, R.F.A.; 26th Septr. 1901); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (3105 Dvr. F. G. Bradley, V.C., 69th Bty. R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3105 Bomb. F. G. Bradley, R.F.A.); Natal 1906, 1 clasp, 1906 (Tpr. F. H. Bradley, V.C., Transvaal Mtd. Rifles); 1914-15 Star (Lt. F. H. Bradley, V.C., 10th Infantry); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. F. H. Bradley); Colonial Auxiliary Forces Decoration, G.V.R. (Major F. H. Bradley, Reserve Officers); Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service, G.V.R. (Capt. F. H. Bradley, Sup. List A.C.F.); Coronation 1937, privately inscribed, ‘Major F. H. Bradley, V.C.’, note difference in initials on the first three, generally good very fine: current research indicates that less than 10 Boer War V.Cs exist outside Museum collections (10) £140000-180000

V.C. London Gazette 27 September 1901:

‘During the action at Itala, Zululand, on 26 September 1901, Major Chapman called for volunteers to carry ammunition up hill; to do this a space of about 150 yards swept by a heavy cross fire had to be crossed. Driver Lancashire and Gunner Ball at once came forward and started, but half-way across Driver Lancashire fell wounded. Driver Bradley and Gunner Rabb without a moment’s hesitation ran out and caught Driver Lancashire up, and Gunner Rabb carried him under cover, the ground being swept by bullets the whole time. Driver Bradley then, with the aid of Gunner Boddy, succeeded in getting ammunition up the hill.’


Frederick Henry Bradley was born in Shoreditch, London in September 1876 and enlisted in the Royal Artillery in March 1894. Appointed a Driver in 41st Battery, Royal Field Artillery in the following month, he also served in 44th Battery before transferring to 69th Battery in April 1897, shortly before the unit was embarked for South Africa as part of 1st Brigade, R.F.A.

The Boer War - V.C.

Having then been present at Talana, Lombard’s Kop, the defence of Ladysmith and Laing’s Nek, he was among a handful of gunners chosen to accompany the Fifth Division Mounted Infantry Battalion, raised by Major A. J. Chapman, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, in August 1900 - thus two guns from 69th Battery, in addition to a Maxim. Of events at Fort Itala on 26 September 1901, 69th Battery’s diary states:

‘At about 12.15 a.m. a very heavy fire was opened on the camp from all sides. The guns opened fire at once, firing shrapnel at the flashes at a range of 1,100 yards. There was a full moon. At about 3 a.m. Gunner Miller was wounded. The guns ceased firing about this time as the moon had gone down. The Boers at this time rushed one of our advanced trenches but the Sergeant with his twenty men fixed bayonets and charged, driving the Boers back. He lost 10 men.

At 4 a.m. fire ceased and it was thought that the Boers had cleared. Day broke about 4.45 a.m. and at 5 a.m. the Boers again opened fire hotter than ever. The guns opened fire again using magazine fire as the Boers were now very close, in fact could have been reached with case shot if there had not been one of our own trenches in front of us. Lieutenant Herbert was hit almost at once then Corporal Flowers and Gunner Spence. Major Chapman then ordered the men to leave the guns as it was evident the guns could not be kept in action and men could not bring up ammunition. The guns at this time were under fire from the rear as well as the front and one gun had been turned round to check the fire from the rear.

After taking cover those who could get rifles worked in the trenches and others dressed the wounded and carried ammunition to the trenches.

About 11 a.m. Major Chapman called for volunteers to carry ammunition to a trench on the hill a distance of about 300 yards under a heavy fire. Six men volunteered. Gunner Boddy and Driver Lancashire started with the first box and got half way when Driver Lancashire was hit. Gunner Rabb and Driver Bradley ran out to carry him in and brought him back. Major Chapman then ordered no more men were to be sent but Gunner Ball and Driver Bradley ran out before they could be stopped and succeeded in getting one box to the top of the hill. Gunner Rabb and Driver Bradley were recommended for the V.C. ... ’

Research undertaken by Canon W. M. Lummis, M.C., throws further light on Bradley’s gallant forays under fire:

‘When Major Chapman called for volunteers to take ammunition up the hill to the infantry at Fort Itala on the Zululand border, Bradley was one of the volunteers. A tiny man, his services were declined; but Bradley insisted, and when others were wounded, he instantly rushed out to carry them out to shelter and then carried the ammunition uphill. Before doing so, however, he knelt down by a bush and prayed for God’s help.

It is stated that when Bradley returned to his comrades he said to them: “Boys, I have been given the V.C. but there is another V.C. - the Victor’s Crown, which is given to all those who like St. Paul have fought the good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith.” ’

His V.C. was presented to him by Lord Kitchener at Pretoria on Peace Thanksgiving Day, 8 June 1902, in addition to which he received the Queen’s Medal & 5 clasps and the King’s Medal & 2 clasps. He was also promoted to Bombardier. Having latterly been placed on the strength of 1st Army Reserve in South Africa, Bradley took his discharge in March 1906.

Further active service

In the same month he enrolled as a Corporal in the Central South African Railway Volunteers (C.S.A.R.V.), but it was with the Transvaal Mounted Rifles that he was present in operations during the Zulu Rebellion, when he had charge of a machine-gun (Medal & clasp). Having then been discharged in February 1908, he rejoined in the C.S.A.R.V. as a Sergeant in January 1910 and, having surrendered his own place to another, accompanied the South African Contingent to the Coronation in London in 1911 at his own expense; as confirmed in official records, however, he was not awarded the relevant medal.

In January 1913, he transferred to the 10th Infantry (The Witwatersrand Rifles), in which regiment he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in July 1913 and advanced to Lieutenant in March 1914.

The Great War: a close call in German South-West Africa - Trench Mortars in France - wounded Delville Wood

He subsequently served in German South-West Africa from August 1914 until September 1915, initially as C.O. of ‘C’ Company but latterly as a Railway Transport Officer, and was fortunate to survive the same railway collision in which Sir George Farrar, D.S.O., was killed. Bradley takes up the story:

‘Sir George had his own rail trolley which he used to get about the country. I was offered a lift on the trolley by Sir George which I gratefully accepted, and we arranged to leave for Kuibis at dusk. The driver’s name was Henwood. The line was single track and it was essential that the stationmaster at both ends should know in advance what traffic was on the way, so that we would not meet any traffic.

Sir George, therefore, gave instructions to Captain Pigg, the military stationmaster at Kuibis, to allow no train to leave until the trolley arrived from Bukkels-Bron. Unfortunately, the telephone wires were continually overburdened with calls on important military matters, and Captain Pigg received only a portion of the message. The vital part, that no train was to leave Kuibis, did not reach him. Our trolley was lit by an acetylene lamp. It was a terrible night. A gale was blowing at 70 to 80 miles an hour, carrying with it lumps of grit that stung our faces. Only tightly fitting goggles prevented our being blinded. Henwood, the driver, sat on the left of the trolley, Sir George Farrar was on his right, and I sat immediately behind him with my arm over the seat. Sir George chatted to me in a friendly manner, and we were about two miles from our destination when the accident occurred.

I do not remember very much but I have been able to piece the story together from my fleeting recollections and what I was later told by those who arrived first on the scene. By a tragic mischance as I have explained, a mixed goods train left Kuibis shortly before we were due to arrive, and the vision of the driver was obscured by a large cylindrical tank of water, commonly known as a ‘Torpedo’. Neither Henwood nor the driver of the goods train was able to avoid the impact. Henwood, poor fellow, was terribly injured and did not live long afterwards. Dr. Pratt, of the Natal Carbineers, told me later that Sir George saw a collision was imminent when a ‘Torpedo’ loomed up, and he jumped to the side. He was struck on the hip and critically injured. He had spells of consciousness before he died, bravely, like a real soldier, at 5 o'clock the following morning.

And now, what happened to me! Mercifully, I suppose, I do not seem to have been aware that we were about to be struck by a train. I was exchanging a few words with Sir George in the howling gale and then I woke up in the hospital at Kuibis. I was flung 70 yards by the impact, and was picked up by Major Pirie, of the Treasury. He told me that he found me ‘out on my feet’ with blood streaming from my face. As soon as he begun to talk to me I collapsed. I was under medical care for two months with a variety of injuries, such as broken ribs, broken ankles, a broken nose and head wounds. Looking back on it I do not think Providence intended me to die in a railway accident.’

On recovering from his injuries, Bradley applied for a transfer to France at the end of 1915, and was appointed a Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery, attached Royal Engineers, on his arrival in England. However, as Major Geoffrey Tylden, E.D., later recalled, ‘His old C.O. offered him a cushy job with the St. John’s Wood Depot Battery.’ Bradley said “In that case I must take the ribbon down,” but also asked for Trench Mortars.’

His wish was granted and he proceeded to France as as Adjutant of 5th Trench Mortar Battery, 5th Brigade, 2nd Division in early 1916. Later still, in the acting rank of Captain, he commanded six batteries of mortars on the Somme and was seriously wounded at Delville Wood in November 1916. Bradley returned to South Africa in July 1917, where he was employed in the Defence Force.

Between the Wars

In December 1919, he transferred to the 2nd Mounted Rifles (the Natal Carbineers) from the Supernumerary List of the Active Citizen Force, in which regiment he received promotion to the substantive rank of Captain in December 1923.

He was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal (Government Gazette No. 509 of 1924, refers), and the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Decoration (Government Gazette No. 1766 of 1929, refers), and also attended the Coronation in 1937 as a member of the South African Contingent (Medal).

He remained on the Reserve of Officers until September 1938 and was granted the honorary rank of Major.

The Latter Years

In later life Bradley found work as a publican and manager of a general store. A keen shot and angler, he also found time to pen such publications as Dengue Fever: How Caused and How Avoided, The Deadly Fly and Winged Death.

The previously quoted Major Tylden recalled:

‘He was a damn good chap and kept a pub in Zululand near where the Prince Imperial was killed. He used to say “My nerve is gone, so I drink,” and he did, poor chap. He always spoke of himself as an ex-Driver and he looked it! I liked him very much ... I admired his lack of swank. A fine soldier of the old type.’

Moreover, he was a generous old soldier, The Cape Argus reporting in 1935:

‘In the balance sheet of the Royal Chelsea Hospital there appears a brief entry reading: ‘From the Bradley V.C. Fund. £10.’ Behind this cryptic announcement lies the story of a hero living in Johannesburg and now almost 60 years of age, who voluntarily surrenders £10 paid him annually by the British Government and who modestly disclaims any praise for his deed ... Major Bradley decided to stop accepting the bounty for himself and instead let the Royal Chelsea Hospital have the benefit of it.’

Bradley finally settled in Gwelo, Southern Rhodesia, where he worked as a telephone exchange operator, and died on 10 March 1943, following an operation in the local hospital the previous day. A newspaper report of the time stated:

‘The day that he went to hospital was the day when H.E. the Governor, Sir Evelyn Baring and Lady Mary Baring paid their first official visit to Gwelo, and it is reported that the Governor had a long chat with Major Bradley, to whom he showed his medals (which he had taken to hospital with him) and it is stated that H.E. was very pleased indeed to converse with the old hero, and learn something of his campaigning.’



Sold with extensive copied research, several old newspaper cuttings and Bradley’s original 1914-15 Star certificate from Defence Headquarters, Pretoria.