L/Cpl 16639 John Bradley

• Age: 24
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

16639 Lance Corporal John BRADLEY, 18^th Battalion KLR.

John Bradley was born on 28th November 1891 in Maghull, the only son of John  Bradley and his first wife, Ann (née Kirk) who were married on the 23rd June 1886 at St Andrew's Church, Maghull. He was baptised on the 13th December 1891 in Maghull, his father was a gardener. 

The 1891 Census shows the family living on Brook Road, Maghull. His father, John, is a 29 year old gardener born in Liverpool, whilst his wife Ann is also 29 born in Church (probably Accrington), children born Maghull; Grace aged 3, and Emma 1. 

Ann sadly died. aged 33, on the 07th August 1895 when John was a young boy. She was the daughter of Hartley, born Colne, and Grace (née Slater), born Kellbrook, Yorkshire, who married in Skipton in 1860.

His father remarried to Alice Ledson on the 18th September 1896 once again at St Andrew's Church, Maghull. Widower, John, was a 34 year old gardener, his father, William, a provisions dealer, whilst Alice was aged 35 of Maghull, her father, Samuel, a labourer.  

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 2a Manley Road, Waterloo, Liverpool. His father, John, is a 39 year old gardener born in Liverpool, whilst his wife, Alice, is also 39 born in Maghull. John has four sisters all born in Maghull; Grace aged 13, Emma 11,John aged 9, Jessie 7 and Nellie 5.

By 1911 the family are living at The Lodge, Manley Road, Waterloo. John is aged19, and is described as a clerk with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. His father, John, is aged 49 and is still a gardener, and his stepmother, Alice, is also aged 49. They advised that they have been married 14 years and have had  6 children, 5 of whom have survived. Declared on the Census are two sisters; Emma a 21 year old dressmaker and Nellie Kirk now 15.   

John enlisted in Liverpool on the 02nd September 1914, joining the 18th Battalion as Private 16639 giving his age as 22 years 276 days, his occupation stated as a clerk and his next of kin as his father. He was described as being 5'5" tall, weighing 128lbs, chest 33”, with a sallow complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. His religion was stated as Church of England and his next of kin was his father John, of the Lodge, Manley Road. Prior to the war John had served for 3 years in the Mersey Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Battalion.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

On 18^th October 1915 he was appointed Lance Corporal (Unpaid) and on 1^st November 1915 Lance Corporal (Paid). He served in France from 07^th November 1915 and between 10^th and 31^st May 1916 attended 30^th Divisional Grenade School, returning to his unit on the latter date.

John was killed in action during the attack at Montauban on 01^st July 1916 by machine gun fire whilst part of a volunteer bombing party.

18^th Battalion Dairy:

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks. 

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257. 

John's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01^st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His anxious father, 31 Argo Road, Waterloo, wrote to the authorities on the 13th July 1916 asking for confirmation of his reported death on the 1st July. He stated his son was serving with No.2 Coy, No.8 Platoon, 18/KLR.  

His death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on 15th August 1916:

Lance-Corporal Bradley,24, of the Pals, only son of Mr. And Mrs. John Bradley, the Lodge, Manley road, Waterloo, who was killed whilst engaged in a volunteer bombing party. 

John is also commemorated on the following Memorials

St John’s Church, St John’s Road, Waterloo

Waterloo Civic Memorial

United Free Church, Crosby Road North, Waterloo

Congregational Church, Church Road, Waterloo, Liverpool.  

Further notices appeared:- 

His family placed notices in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 02nd July 1917, marking the first anniversary of his death 

BRADLEY - In loving memory of Jack (K.L.R.), killed in action, July 1, 1916 (Somme Battle). (Never forgotten by Amy and all at 44 Bridge Road, Blundellsands.) 

Also in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 02nd July 1918; 

BRADLEY - In loving memory of Jack, killed in action, July 1, 1916. - Ever remembered by Amy and all at 44 Bridge Road. 

Personal items returned to his father were a wallet containing letters, photos, badge, and 4 stamps.   

He earned his three medals.   

Soldiers Effects, Army pay of £2 5s 5d, £8 War Gratuity to father John, Pension to mother Alice, the Lodge, Manley Road.  

His father died, aged 64. on the 23rd March 1926. 

We currently have no further information on John Bradley, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.