SAPPER GEORGE BRADFORD
3271 – 1st Tunnelling Company
George Bradford was born in Taunton, Somerset, England about 1887 the son of William and Emma Bradford. In 1891 the family was living at 6 Lower Queen Street, Taunton and consisted of his father William (34) a general labourer, Emma (36), Rosa (13), Frederick (8) and George (5). By 1901 they were at 41 Portman Street, Taunton and were William (44), Rose (23), Frederick (18) and George (13). He came to Australia and was working as a Labourer in Mackay, Queensland in 1915.
At the Recruiting Depot in Mackay, Qld on December 17, 1915 he applied to enlist for active service abroad. Personal particulars show he was twenty-three years of age and 161cms (5ft 3¼ins) tall with a chest measurement of 94cms (37ins). His preliminary medical examination on December 20, 1915 declared him unfit for the following reasons (1) Varicose veins in both legs (2) Varicocele on left side (Varicose veins in scrotum). His Application was therefore rejected for overseas service but fit for home service.
He reapplied at the Rockhampton Recruiting Depot on January 18, 1916 just four days after having the varicose veins removed. He was declared fit and Attestation Forms were completed adding further information of his weight 61.3kgs (135lbs) with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. Church of England was his religious faith. Next-of-kin was his mother Mrs Emma Bradford of Portman Street, Taunton, England. He signed and took the ‘Oath of Allegiance’ the same day.
Basic training for Private Bradford took place at Enoggera camp, Brisbane, Qld with the 11th Depot Battalion from January 20 until February 26, 1916. On March 1 he was transferred to the reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies.
The recruits formed part of the No.4 Company, which embarked from Brisbane, Qld early in May, 1916 aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, NSW. Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections.
At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW on May 11, 1916 he joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training. The rank of Sapper and the Regimental number 3271in No. 4 Company was assigned to him.
The 7713-ton transport departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Victoria the No. 5 Company recruited from Victoria, South Aust. & Tasmania made up of Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). 1 Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1st Reinforcements for No. 5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.) The ship departed on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs.
Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916 added No. 6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs departing the same day.
Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916 and Cape Town on June 21, 1916 while St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916. Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where Away without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather terminating at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916. Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were detrained to Amesbury and Tidworth to begin training for the front at Perham Down’s camp.
On August 16, 1916 he was transferred to Bulford Military Hospital for treatment of a social disease. After 49 days curative care he returned to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs on October 5, 1916 classified with debility B1A and eight days later was transferred to No. 3 Details Camp at Parkhouse.
On New Year’s Day, 1917 Reinforcements departed for France from Folkstone and marched into the Aust General Base Depot the next day.
Sapper Bradford was attached on January 13, 1917 to the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion, which was an advanced section of the Base Depot that organised works near the lines. Duties were usually of ten days duration and would accustom the reinforcements to war conditions before being assigned to a company in the field.
He was taken on strength in the field with the 1st Tunnelling Company on January 27, 1917.
The following was dealt with on March 18, 1917:
Offence:17/3/17 W.O.A.S. [While of Active Service] drunkenness
Award:4 days F.P. No. 2 [Field Punishment]
During the evening of 15/16 April, 1917 he was wounded in action caused by machine gun fire.
The Unit Diary of the 1st Tunnelling Company records the following extract:
He was admitted to the 13th Stationary Hospital on April 18 with a gunshot wound (severe) to his left arm and the next day left Boulogne for England on the hospital ship Jan Breydal. He entered the 1st Birmingham Hospital at Rednal on April 19 and remained a patient for thirty days. Medical notes state:
Debility VIII Tibia, X-Ray Report states fractured Tibia occurring up to joint.
Wound healed – some stiffness at elbow.
Discharged to the 3rd Aust. Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford on May 18, 1917 and after eight days was released on furlough on May 25. Medical notes: ‘Now Well.’ He was to report to the No. 1 Command Depot on June 6, 1917 at the Drafting Depot in Perham Downs. On June 11 was reclassified to B1A3 and noted to be ‘Almost well.’ A dental check was done on June 19 and marked dentally fit.
Departed the Overseas Training Depot for France via Southampton and marched into the A.G.B.D. at Rouelles the next day. He left to rejoin his unit on June 29 and rejoined them in the field on July 10.
Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform were due for twelve months service.
He went to the 15th Field Ambulance for a Blood Test on February 7, 1918 and was transferred to the 15th F.A. Divisional Rest Station and returned to duty two days later.
On June 28, 1918 went sick to the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital with Influenza but the next day was conveyed on A.T.37 to the 1st Aust General Hospital at Rouen. On July 6 went to the 2nd Convalescent Depot for a few days and returned to the A.G.B.D. at Rouelles on July 13 and back to Unit duties on July 16, 1918.
Leave was enjoyed from the front and taken from October 8 until October 24, 1918.
He was with his unit when Armistice was declared and the Tunnelling Companies remained as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with rehabilitation of their area clearing roads and bridges.
On February 3, 1919 he went sick to the 3rd Aust Field Ambulance then transferred to the 55th C.C.S. diagnosed with a social disease and transported on A.T.31 to the 8th Stationary Hospital on February 8, 1919.
Once again carried on the hospital ship Jan Breydal to England and admitted to the 1st Aust. Dermatological Hospital at Bulford. He was treated in the A. Surgical B. Div. Ward after a skin graft. After 102 days he was discharged to the 1st A.G. Hospital on May 19 and to Sutton Veny on June 7 marched in to No. 2 Group camp on July 4, 1919.
Sapper Bradford embarked on the H.T. Euripides for the voyage home on September 7, 1919 and the ship docked in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on October 24, 1919. He proceeded by rail to Brisbane, Qld (1st M.D.) and entered the 6th Aust General Hospital at Kangaroo Point the following day.
A final Medical Report was completed which states:
Varicose veins operated on prior to enlistment, still gives trouble, pain etc.
A.I.F. Form No. 536 states: Operated on before enlistment for varicose veins with pain after walking.
Debility due to: (a) Not attributed to service (b) Aggravated by service.
Present condition: States still has some pain refined to legs, will probably not interfere with work.
Operation:Performed in Mackay Dec. 1915 before enlistment.
Recommend:Discharge. Confirmed: October 30, 1919.
Military Discharge was issued in Brisbane, Qld (1st M.D.) on the termination period of enlistment on December 21, 1919.
Sapper 3271 George Bradford, 1st Tunnelling Company received the British War Medal (18109) and the Victory Medal (17678) for serving his country.
George Bradford, son of William and Emma (nee Giles) Bradford died in Queensland in November 1957.
© Donna Baldey 2011/2013