Auction Catalogue
Create new listAn interesting K.P.M. group of eight awarded to Colonel W. E. H. Bradburn, Inspector-General of Police, British Guiana, late 8th Hussars and King Edward’s Horse
The Order of St John of Jerusalem, Officer (Brother) silver breast badge; King’s Police Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue (Col. William E. H. Bradburn, Insp-Gen. of Police, British Guiana); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Coape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (1556 Tpr., S.A.C.); 1914-15 Star (13319 Pte.-A-Cpl., 8th Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (13319 A.Cpl., 8/Hrs.) these three later issues; Jubilee 1935, named (Col., Br. Guiana Militia); Coronation 1937, named (Col.) contact marks to the earlier medals, otherwise nearly very fine and better (8) £600-700
This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Police Awards From the Collection of John Tamplin.
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K.P.M. London Gazette 1 January 1932. The recommendation states: ‘Has a specially distinguished record in administrative and detective services. Has successfully organised the Police Force of the Colony.’
William Ernest Horatio Bradburn was born in Derby on 26 May 1884, son of a pattern maker. As a young man of some 17 years of age, he served during the Boer War, with the Imperial Yeomanry in 1901, and later in the ranks of the South African Constabulary until October 1907. On the outbreak of the Great War, Bradburn joined the 8th Hussars and served overseas with this regiment until April 1917.
Bradburn was granted a commission from an Officer Cadet Unit as a Second Lieutenant in King Edward’s Horse on 17 April 1917. He was appointed Adjutant of the Reserve Regiment of King Edward’s Horse in September 1917, with acting rank of Captain, but appears to have remained stationed in Ireland for the remainder of the war. He was promoted Lieutenant in the regiment in October 1918, and subsequently returned to their pre-war Head Quarters in Chelsea.
In July 1919 he was selected for an appointment in the Cyprus Military Police, and in the following October was appointed a local Commandant. He served in Cyprus until 1927, and held a number of appointments there during this period, including those of Deputy Coroner, in the district of Larnaca, and later Nicosia, a Member of the Prison Board, and a Visitor of the Central Prison. He held acting and deputy appointments as Chief Commandant of the Cyprus Police at various times, as well as acting as A.D.C. to the High Commissioner on several occasions, becoming Honorary A.D.C. from October 1924. In August 1926 he was nominated an Official Member of the Legislative Council.
In January 1927, Bradburn was appointed Inspector-General of Police and Commandant of the Local Forces in British Guiana, and from May to December 1927 he was in addition acting Inspector of Prisons. He was nominated Official Member of the Legislative Council from August 1928 to June 1930, and of the Executive Council from May to December 1929. During his tenure in British Guiana, Bradburn did much work with and for the St John’s Ambulance Association, and for his services was appointed an Officer (Brother) of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, as notified in the London Gazette of 25 June 1935.
Bradburn held the rank of Colonel in the British Guiana Militia, and was President of the British Guiana Local Forces Rifle Club. His only son, William Stewart Bradburn, was later an officer in the Trinidad Police, and as a Sub-Inspector was killed in riots in Trinidad during 1937. He was shot in the chest and killed on 21 June of that year in rioting in South Trinidad in the course of a strike by 5000 oilfield workers over higher wages and shorter hours.
Colonel Bradburn retired in 1937 and the following year approval was granted for him to retain his rank with permission to wear the prescribed uniform. In due course he returned to England and in 1968 was living in Budleigh Salterton, Devon. Sold with full research.
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