Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War M.M. pair awarded to Private A. E. Bradford, 16th (First Eccles Pals) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, killed in action on the First Day of the Somme

Military Medal, G.V.R. (11376 Pte., 16/Lanc. Fus.); 1914-15 Star (11376 Pte., Lan. Fus.) together with Bronze Memorial Plaque (Albert Edward Bradford) the reverse of the plaque fitted with hanging attachment, otherwise nearly extremely fine (3) £350-400

Sold with copy news cuttings which give the following information: ‘Mr. Wm. T. Bradford, of Patricroft, has received from the military authorities the Military Medal, awarded to his deceased son for bravery on the battlefield. The late Private A. E. Bradford, who was killed in the first big push of the Somme battle on July 1st-2nd, was a member of the First Eccles Pals’ Company of the Lancashire Fusiliers, and previous to enlisting was employed as a butcher by the Eccles Co-operative Society. Deceased was 24 years of age. Major Tweed, writing to the father, stated that Pte. Bradford was killed in performing an act of gallantry which was worthy of the good fellow he was. In the attack on July 1st Major Tweed, who was the only officer of the Company not a casualty, came across a large PARTY OF HIS MEN IN SHELL HOLES, MOMENTARILY DAZED BY THE HEAVY SHELLING AND MACHINE GUN FIRE. CALLING UPON THEM TO RALLY AND CONTINUE THE ADVANCE, BRADFORD - ALL HIS NON-COMMISSIONERS WERE CASUALTIES - SPRANG UP AND CALLED UPON THE MEN TO FOLLOW THE MAJOR. HIS EXAMPLE, COURAGE AND LEADERSHIP WERE JUST WHAT WAS WANTED AT THE MINUTE, AND HE WAS NOT SEEN AFTERWARDS, BUT, ADDS MAJOR TWEED, “HE DIED A VERY GALLANT GENTLEMAN, AND ALL WHO KNEW HIM REGRET HIS DEATH” .’ FROM THE FOREGOING IT IS APPARENT THAT BRADFORD’S Military Medal was awarded for his actions on the 1st July.