left to right: Winnifield, Eric, Harold, Martin

Cpl. Harold Lester Bradford - born: 28 October 1884 in Eastport, Washington Co., Maine; Served with 115th Battalion and 26th Canadian Infantry Battalion; Regimental Number: 742701 Pte. Martin Benjamin Bradford - born: 28 April 1893 in Beaver Harbour, Charlotte Co., New Brunswick; Served with 115th Battalion and 26th Canadian Infantry Battalion; Regimental Number: 742702 Pte. Eric Allison Bradford - born: 23 December 1894 in Blacks Harbour, Charlotte Co., New Brunswick. Served with 115th Battalion and 26th Canadian Infantry Battalion; Regimental Number: 743041 Pte. Winnifield Walter "Winnie" Bradford - born: 15 April 1896 in Blacks Harbour, Charlotte Co., New Brunswick; Served with 236th Battalion "The New Brunswick Kelties"; Regimental Number 1030239

Just over thirty years prior to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 14th 1914, Martin Byrne Bradford and Lola Jane Barney were married at Eastport, Maine on April 24th 1882. Martin Byrne, born on January 21st, 1856, was the youngest son of Sea Capt. Benjamin Bradford and Mary Helen Cookson. Sadly, Martin's mother passed away when he was only 8 months old. Within months of his mother's passing, his father married Francis Sarah "Sadie" Greenlaw. He was 20 years of age when his father, while captaining the Schooner "W.T. King", sunk and was lost at sea while on a return voyage from West Indies to New York. It is unclear how much of his father Martin would have seen, as the Captain sailed around the world. One should not overlook the rich history of the Bradford family: Martin's 5th great-grandfather was Gov. William Bradford, one of the founding settlers of the Plymouth Colony. Regardless of his past, Martin was now forging ahead in the world with his marriage to sixteen year old Lola Jane. Little did the new couple know that from their union eighteen children would be born. And it is further unlikely that they would have foreseen that four of their eighteen children would be enlisted to fight in a "world" war that is spark by an assassin's deadly shot.

Sixteen months after Martin and Lola's marriage, the couple had their first child; Victor Hugo Bradford was born on August 2nd 1883 at Eastport, Maine. Their first child was obviously named after the 19th century French writer, Victor Hugo. Lola had a great interest in literature and in her spare time, wrote poetry. Victor was followed a year later by another son, Harold Lester Bradford. Harold was born on October 28th 1884. The family continues to grow with the addition of four more children. However, sadly two of the children, Bailey John Bradford and Royce Reginald Bradford, died while infants. While at Eastport, Martin and Lola work for the McLean Sardine Factory. Sometime between 1892 and early 1893, Martin and Lola, along with their 2 sons and 2 daughters, relocate from Eastport, Maine to New Brunswick to find employment in the newly developing sardine canning industry. Once in New Brunswick, the family is first employed with the Lewis Holmes sardine cannery in Beaver Harbour. On April 28th 1893, their first child is born in Canada; Martin Benjamin Bradford was born while the family is living at Beaver Harbour. Lola's superior skill in scissor packing sardines was apparently noticed by Lewis and Patrick Connors (not to mention her ability to continue working while raising a growing family!). The Connors Brothers had started a cannery company in the neighboring community of Blacks Harbour in 1885. Lola and Martin both found work with Connors Bros. and the Bradfords would bring a loyal, hard-work ethic to the Connors Bros. for generations to come. Martin is soon followed by two brothers; Eric Allison Bradford, born on December 23rd 1894, and Winfield Walter Bradford, born on April 15th 1896 (not sure how accurate those dates of birth are!?). A few months later, Lola was at the Saint John Exhibition where she showed the art of packing sardines to crowds of onlookers. This was no doubt a memorable event for her!

Above: Connors Bros. Fleet at Blacks Harbour

In the 1901 Census, the Bradford family had grown to eleven children and were now living in Blacks Harbour. Martin's occupation, along with eldest sons Victor and Harold, is that of a "can maker". The family is making a very modest living, especially when compared to other families in Blacks Harbour at that time. Martin Sr. is earning approximately $500 per year while sons Victor is earning $400 and Harold is earning $200. Victor and Harold are earning more than many of the family men in the community. The family indicates that their religion is "Free Baptist" and all of the older family members can read and write. *It is important to note that the ages in census are often wrong as discussions around ages and dates of birth seemed to confuse many census enumerators.

By the time of the 1911 Census, Vic, Harold, Kathleen and Helen are now living on their own, with each of them being married and some of them having children of their own. And once again, by the time of the 1911 census, Martin and Lola have had and lost two more children in infancy; two daughters, Lola May Bradford and Avis Irene Bradford, who did not make it past infancy. Now at the ages of 58 and 43 respectively, Martin and Lola have completed their family and are now grandparents with seven grandchildren. Martin's occupation is a "Foreman" while Lola is a "Packer". Martin and Eric are working as "Flakers" on the flake line at Connors Bros. Gladys is also working on the packing lines. Winnie is a "General Laborer" and young Nellie is a "Domestic", tending to the work at home. It might be interesting to note that in the 1911 Census, we find the Bradford family living next to the family of Patrick Connors. Their relationship between Patrick Connors and his wife Carrie is one of friendship. With the booming sardine industry, the small village of Blacks Harbour grows in both prosperity and population.

Harold is not found in the 1911 Canadian Census. At some point in the previous years, Harold moved to New York City to live with relatives. While in New York, he worked as a machine mechanic. Being that he was mechanically inclined, it might be safe to say that Harold would have had some interest in one of the newest inventions of that time, the automobile. While in New York, Harold falls in love with a young woman, Ellen Nolan. An Irish immigrant born in Co. Wexford, Ireland, Ellen is the daughter of Martin and Annaliza (Rossitor) Nolan. The couple is married on February 28th 1911 at City Hall and together move to an apartment at 448 West 43rd Street, in the upper Westside of Manhattan. A little more than a year later, the newspaper headlines around the world are about the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 12th, 1912. As like most newly married couples, Harold and Ellen probably have dreams… however their dreams short-lived when on May 27th 1913, Ellen, at the age of 28, dies of fever. Shortly thereafter, Harold returned to his family in Canada.

On August 4th 1914, Great Britain declares war on Germany after Germany invades Belgium. With the declaration, Canada, a member of the British Commonwealth, automatically enters into war. On February 5th 1916, Harold and Martin enlist at St. George, New Brunswick. A few days later on February 10th, the brothers are in Saint John completing their enlistment with completion of documents and a medical examination. Their service numbers are one number apart, Pte. Harold Lister Bradford (Regimental # 742701) and Pte. Martin Benjamin Bradford (Regimental #742702). Also in the line are several other men from Blacks Harbour: Joseph Moses, George Thompson and Cecil Wickerson. Just over a month later, Eric would enlist in Saint John on March 23rd 1916 (Regimental #743041). The three brothers, all part of the 115th Battalion, begin their training at the barracks in Saint John. They receive rifle training, learn parade/marching instruction and received a few more medical checkups including several vaccinations. In mid-July the battalion loads up on a train bound for Nova Scotia and on July 23rd 1916, the three Bradford brothers depart Halifax aboard the SS Olympic. Commissioned in Ireland in 1911, the Olympic was a sister ship to the Titanic for the White Star Line. Over a year later, the city of Halifax would experience disaster when a horrific explosion kills nearly 2,000 people on December 6th 1917. For the brothers, this was likely their biggest adventure. Living between Eastport Maine and Blacks Harbour, they are familiar with the sea but now they are sailing to Europe. Some time during their eight day journey across the Atlantic, one can be sure that they thought of their family back in Blacks Harbour. And they must have also thought, as they lost sight of the Canadian coast, of when their return voyage might be.

Above: S. S. Olympic, White Star Lines

The SS Olympic arrived in Liverpool, England on July 31st 1916. The brothers, as with all Canadian soldiers after arriving in Liverpool, board a train and are transported a full day's journey south to the Canadian Army Camp at Bramshott, England. "Camp Bramshott" was one of three Canadian Army facilities in the Aldershot Command area of England. The camp was set up on the Bramshott Commons, just east of the village of Bramshott and northeast of the village of Liphook. The brothers would have arrived at Liphook Station and marched north to the Camp area. In late September, Martin completes his Will in which he names his mother, Lola Bradford, his benefactor. On October 15th 1916 the brothers are transferred from the 115th Battalion to the 112th Battalion; mostly as a result of the Canadian Army's restructure initiative.

Back in Canada, young brother, Winnie, enlist in October 1916.Winnie was a few years younger than Eric. Unlike his brothers, Winnie was enlisted in the 236th Battalion (Regimental #1030239), also known as "The New Brunswick Kilties". The "Kilties" were based out of Fredericton and uniformed in Scottish style regalia, with a McLean Kilt and a drab Balmoral headdress with a Turkey Feather. His service would have him stay in Canada where, when not training, he would be assigned to guard duties at government buildings or industrial locations. The Kilties were also known as the "McLean Kilties of America" or "Sir Sam's Own".

Pte. Winnifield "Winnie" Bradford   Left: Pte. Winnifield "Winnie" Bradford dress with the standard 236th Battalion "The New Brunswick Kelties" head-dress and hold a chanter.

The Christmas of 1916 was a very different Christmas for the Bradford family for this Christmas three of the sons of Martin and Lola were far away in England and facing imminent danger. But despite being away from home, Harold, Martin and Eric were together to celebrate the holiday season. Eric was a Christmas child, being born on Christmas Day 1894, so the brothers had another reason to celebrate. This Christmas was to be different from all other Christmas. Different because it would be the last Christmas the three brothers would spend together. Different because it was the last Christmas the Bradford family would have with their father, Martin Sr. Different because all other Christmas to follow would never be the same.

February 1917 brought the first of what would be bad news for the year. Martin Byrne Bradford's death came on February 24th, which was coincided with the 14th birthday of one of his sons, Donald. One can only imagine how the news of their father's death reached the brothers in England. As time went on and spring arrived, the brothers were still at Camp Bramshott. While there they continued to train but Harold had also found new love with an English girl name Margaret Davies. Margaret was the daughter of Thomas and Esther Davies of Surrey, England. On April 27th 1917, Harold was granted permission for leave to marry Margaret. Harold was no longer a widow and once again he would have dreams of a family and plans of a future. However thoughts of a simple life were short lived as Martin and Eric received word that they were being transferred to the 26th Canadian Infantry Battalion in early May. The 26th Canadian Infantry Battalion, also known as "The Fighting 26th", was made up of almost entirely fellow New Brunswickers. Being at Camp Bramshott, it is very likely that the brothers knew all to well about the fighting taking place on the front as wounded soldiers returned to Camp on route back to Canada. They now realized that their time in England was limited and that they would soon be on the front lines in France.

Above: Badge of the 26th (New Brunswick) Battalion

By the end of May 1917, Martin and Eric arrive at the 26th Battalion which was set up at Neuville St. Vaast, a small town in France, just north of the town of Arras. Their journey took them by rail to Shoreham, along England's southern coast. After boarding a ship and sailing across the English Channel, they likely landed at Dieppe, France. Once again, they were loaded on a train and taken to Neuville St. Vaast. Martin and Eric would likely have had time to think about the war, family back home and of their future. Unlike many other soldiers, at least the two men had each other to support and talk with. The train load of approx. 165 reinforcements found the 26th Battalion in a support role when they arrived on May 30th. By this point, the 26th Battalion had been in Europe for nearly two years and many of those "original" soldiers that came with the battalion on June 13th, 1915 when it sailed from Saint John, New Brunswick on the S.S. Caledonia were gone and what remained of those living where experienced, sure-sighted veterans that saw their fair share of death and madness. But Martin and Eric were not thrown directly into the battle. The battalion spent several weeks training and exercising. During the first half of June, the battalion concentrated on combat skills of the individual soldier and on platoon and section tactics. Soldiers trained in rapid loading, bayonet fighting and gas mask/respirator drills. It's been said that Martin had great skill with a rifle and may have been given advance marksman training. Little information exists in his military records to indicate that this was the case but does not provide evidence that it was not. Between training and the addition of more reinforcements, the battalion found time for a baseball game on June 20, 1917 and a tug of war competition that saw the battalion beat both the 24th and 25th Battalion teams. But on June 24th Lt-Col. McKenzie carried out inspection, which followed with weapons being distributed to the soldiers, a clear indication for the soldiers that the battalion was soon to moving to the frontlines.

Above: Cpl. Harold L. Bradford and his new wife, Margaret Davies

What the 26th Battalion was heading for was the Third Battle of Ypres, more specifically, the First Battle of Passchendale. After being in a reserve role and being hit by the occasional German artillery barrage, the Battalion move to the frontline on July 6th for approximately 4 days then spending 10 days in support and reserve roles only to be back in the trenches by July 19th. After four days in the trenches and several intense battles, the Battalion was back out and by the end of July, they, along with the entire 5th Brigade gathered around the Bois de Bouvigney area. Once there, they trained on a hill for the upcoming engagement at Hill 70. After nearly two weeks of training, with the occasion rest period, the Battalion moved into position on August 14. Hill 70 was located just north of the city of Lens. The hill had fallen to the Germans in October 1914 and was unsuccessfully challenged by the British in September 1915. Now the British Command ordered the Canadians to take the hill. With the hill in allied control, they would have the high ground and thus the ability to take the city of Lens to their south. The fighting at Passchendale would have to wait.

Above: "Ration up! Canadians receiving food in a shell-shattered village which they captured from the Huns"
Newspaper Clipping - undated; unknown photographer

Back in Canada, someone in the Bradford family was fortunate enough to have come into possession of a news clipping. The small photo, which is captioned with "Ration up! Canadians receiving food in a shell-shattered village which they captured from the Huns". The photo, which obviously would have great treasure to the Bradford family, shows Eric standing in a mess line awaiting his daily food ration. He is standing second from the right. To his right is another local man, Ken Bates. Both Eric and Ken enlisted in March 1916 and may have likely arrived in Europe at the same. Perhaps remaining buddies through the war. Perhaps this photo was taken at the time of Hill 70 but it is very difficult to pin point a date/ place of the photo, however Eric does appear to be older than his early enlistment photos. Then again, we will never know what horrors of war he would have seen up to this point in his life and one can be sure that in the battles of war, men grew old quickly.

The assault on Hill 70 began at 4:25 am on the morning of August 15th, 1917. The prior evening, the Battalion assembled at Bully Grenay. Hill 70 would bring the first impact of the war to the Bradford family. Up to this point, Harold was still in England, spending time with his new wife and training. The new couple was far removed from Martin and Eric, who had now spent several months in the battle line of France. Back in Canada, Winnie was recovering from having his appendix removed. The family was without doubts likely still mourning the loss of their father who had died in February of that year. Their mother, the now widow, Mrs. Lola Bradford, was no doubt spending more and more time in prayer asking for God to watch over her boys. But it was the Gates of Hell that opened up at 4:25 am. During the opening hours of the battle for Hill 70, Eric was severely wounded. Perhaps shrapnel from an exploding shell, perhaps a ricochet bullet, whatever the cause, the effect was to Eric's head. The front right-side of his forehead was severely wounded. Eric would have been taken out of the lines by a stretcher party. Eric was one of the 268 casualties of that day; 88 killed and 180 wounded. The battalion's casualties become lost in the total of 9,198 casualties that result from the battle. In the end, the Hell's gates were closed after ten days and the allies took the high ground over Lens. The Battle of Hill 70 is now consider one of the sadly forgotten battles, but a battle that the Canadian once again proved themselves worthy fighters.

Above: Piece of Shrapnel taken from Eric's head. The thick piece of metal was removed and given to Eric.
After his death, it was kept by his mother and then his sister, Millie.
Today, the shrapnel is on display at the home of one of Millie's sons, Herb Leavitt, in St. George.

By the end of August, Martin found himself alone. Eric was now located at the 22nd General Hospital at Camiers, France, over 100 km to west, near the coast. Growing up in such a large family, in such a small town, loneliness was likely a foreign situation. In 1917, news traveled slowly and Martin would have little information on his brother's condition. We can only imagine his state. By September 13th, Eric was back in England and at the King George Military Hospital (Stamford) in London. He was then moved to the Ontario (Canadian) Hospital at Orpington, England. On September 20th, Eric received a medical examination from Dr. Sutherland. Dr. Sutherland indicates that after surgery, Eric is suffering from eye trouble. The doctor then goes on to say that Eric has a "depressed fracture of the right frontal region, high up" and that "brain pulsations are visible." Clearly, Eric was suffering from more than eye trouble! On the same day back in France, Martin was transferred to the 2nd Canadian Division Training Battalion for bomber course (likely a course on a new weapon: grenades) while the 26th Battalion moved back into the front lines. After twelve days, he rejoined the Battalion at Villers Au Bois, just as they pulled away en route to Neuville St. Vaast, the same place Martin and Eric originally joined up with the Battalion back in May. Five months had past, five months that no doubt seemed like an eternity for Martin.

On October 24th, 1917, after a few days of rest, the Battalion was order to move to the Caestre in the Borre area just west of the Belgium border. The Battalion commenced training for what is now known as the Second Battle of Passchendale. While the Battalion was training and rehearsing, the battle erupted on October 26th. By November 5th, the Battalion was assembled and ready for another memorable battle. The next morning, "Zero Hour" came at 6:00 am after an hour of German shelling and machine gun fire. It was sometime during this day that Martin also suffered shrapnel wound on the forehead. Unlike Eric, Martin's wounds were considered "mild" and after some medical care, he was back with the Battalion on December 20th. By this point Martin's brother Harold had been taken on by the 26th Battalion (He arrived with the Battalion on November 24th). Harold and Martin, and the 26th Battalion, spent Christmas 1917 in Flechin, France. Perhaps by this time the news of a great disaster back in Canada would have reached the soldiers in France. On December 6th, 1917, an ammunitions ship anchored in Halifax Harbour explodes, kill nearly 2,000 people. Sometime between December 27th and 29th, Christmas dinners were served to the companies of the battalion. One can only imagine the holiday prayers the Bradford family was having back in Canada. The family now had Eric back but he was not the same brother that left in July 1916. Eric was severely wounded. He had experience many operations and examinations in attempt to make his life normal and less painful, a struggle he would have for the next two years.

At some point in late 1917, Harold and his new wife Margaret welcome into the world their first child, a daughter Kathleen Lola Bradford. Harold changes many of his documents to reflect his new "next-of-kin". Harold and Margaret made their home at a Manor Cottage at Shottermill/Haslemere in Surrey, which was less than 5 miles southeast of Camp Bramshott.

A new year came in the form of 1918 but not much really seemed to change for the better. The war had been raging on for over three years now. Canadians were seeing their sons return home tired and torn if not in a casket. The Bradford family was likely many Canadian families, tending to their ill brother Eric and praying for the ones still in the fight, Harold and Martin, who, in the early days of January, were fighting not far from Vimy Ridge. The Battle of Vimy Ridge was now an event of the past, happening seven months ago. A couple months were like full year to the men in the trenches. Hours were days, minutes stretched on for what seemed like days. Soldiers could only wonder how many "days" they had left, but they were determined to fight for King and Country until the end. Eric was officially discharged from the army after being deemed "medically unfit". He received a final pay, a total of $100.10… $30.00 paid up front and another $70.10 over 3 months. On January 10th, Harold is transferred to 5th Canadian Field Ambulance (CFA), with nephritis. Nephritis is an inflammation of the kidney but also known as "French Fever". He is then transferred to 58th Casualty Clearing Station and then on to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital (University of McGill), which is set up in Boulogne, France. By January 23rd, Harold is back in England at the White Cross Hospital in Warrington. Harold would be out of the fight until at least July.

Once again, Martin is alone. But being alone in adjacent to "No Man's Land" might be what is best, for who would want their loved ones in this Godforsaken place. His brother Eric is back in Canada trying to recover from his war wounds. Harold has been taken out of the field and is now in England at a hospital. No doubt Martin had good brotherhood with his fellow Fighting 26th soldier as he was a good natured and friendly sort, this according to his own military records and certainly a common trait for the Bradfords. The month of March 1918 was kind to the men of the Battalion. After fighting at Lievin which ended on February 28th, the Battalion remained out of the front lines for the month of March. On March 2nd, Martin was granted fourteen days leave. This appears to be Martin's only leave and a well deserved one to say they least. During the last four months the battalion had been involved in four tours of the front lines. By the end of March the rest was over and back to the war he went. Martin spent his 25th birthday, on April 28th, while the 26th Battalion was resting at Bretencourt. In the Battalion's last tour at the frontlines, they had successful carried out several raids on the German lines in the Mercatel sector, just southeast of Arras. During Martin's "birthday" rest, the Battalion enjoyed clean-up chores, a bath and pay parades, training and church service. The following day, the Battalion move forward and by May 4th were back in the trenches.

In Canada, Winnie was on guard duty at government buildings in Newcastle for much of April 1918 but would be back in Saint John in May. Around this time Winnie was complaining of hernia problems. The hernia is a result of his appendix operation that he had over a year ago. By June, Winnie was also complaining of severe headaches. In France, Martin was still fighting along with the 26th. At the end of June, the Battalion finished up its three month service with the British 3rd Army and reunited with the Canadian Corps. Since detaching from the Canadian Corps. in March, the Battalion lost 46 of its men while another 168 had been wounded. Martin made it through and celebrates Dominion Day with his brothers-in-Arms at Tinques, a village 14 miles west Arras. The Battalion remained out of the fight until mid-July, then they moved to a reserve role for the last half of the month. In England, Harold was making his recovery. In April he moved from Warrington to King's Red Cross Hospital at Bushey Park in Hampton Hill, Middlesex. On May 15th, Harold was relocated to the 2nd Convalescent Depot at Bramshott. By mid-July he was transferred over to the Canadian Army Medical Corps Depot. Neither Eric nor Martin knew that the war would end in four months. However, only one would make it home.

A line in Martin's paybook read "Keep Your Mouth Shut". The same read in every Canadian soldier's paybook. The Canadian Corps were secretly moved to the Amiens. Martin would have carried the typical day's ration: his rifle (likely an Enfield since many battalions were trading in their Ross rifles), 250 bullets, a gas mask, a water bottle, two grenades, two bags for sand and a pick or shovel. This inventory was light compared to the soldier in 1915-1916, but even less than what Martin was fighting with a year previous. There was no need to carry "extra" things, there was fighting to be done. The Canadians gathered artillery, tanks, cavalry and soldiers in what was to be the last great battle of the war. The Battle of Amiens was the opening phase of the Allied offensive; later know as the Hundred Days Offensive that ultimately led to the end of the war. The battle was fought from August 8th to August 11th and ended with 22,000 allied soldiers killed. The Germans faired far worse with over 74,000 killed. The victory celebration was short lived. The battalion was back in the front lines on August 15th, but only for a day. But the battalion did not stay in their relief positions long. It was relocated northwest of Amiens, back to Arras. The end was near for the German Army.

On August 26th, 1918 the Battalion was just south of Arras in a support role, waiting for what would be known as the 2nd Battle of Arras (though specifically these next few days were the Battle of the Scarpe). The next day, the Battalion moved off to the final assembly area at 4:00 am and the soldiers were in the trenches by 8:00 am. "Zero Hour" was set for 10:00 am. By the end of the day, the battalion was well dug in about 600 yards past the Sensee River. Considering the extent of their advance, the Battalions' causalities were considered light: one officer and six other ranks were killed in action, with approximately 129 other ranks wounded. The Battalion now stopped just south of the village of Cherisy. The night of 27th/28th past very quietly for the men of the "Fighting 26th". Martin was amongst those men. While resting as the rain fell, we can easily imagine Martin have thoughts of back home: back to his mother; his ill brothers, Eric and Harold; his sisters and brothers in Canada; of friends back in far away place of Blacks Harbour; of life after the war, perhaps of a love back home. This brief period of rest gave him no warning of what tomorrow was to bring.

August 28th was a warm and bright day. But the late summer's day silence ended at noon when the 26th Battalion was ordered to attack and push eastward. With rifle in hand, Martin no doubt fought bravely alongside his fellow soldier. The "Zero Hour" was 12:30 pm. The three Companies of the Battalion immediate came into contact with intense defensive machine gun fire. To make matters worse, several Company Commanders became causalities themselves and the supporting artillery fire was not as good as the previous day. It is not know at this time which of the Companies Martin was serving with. What we do know is that during the fighting of that day, just south east of the small French rural village of Cherisy, Pte. Martin Benjamin Bradford was killed. He was 25 years old. Martin was one of 47 men that were killed on that day. Among them was Lt-Col. Archibald Ernest Grant McKenzie, the Battalion's Commanding Officer, and a fellow Charlotte County soldier, Pte. Harold Vincent Marraty, son of James and Ellen (Clarke) Marraty of St. Stephen. Sometime over the next few days, Martin's body was taken a few hundred meters to a newly formed cemetery, now called "Sun Quarry Cemetery", where 190 of his fellow soldiers are now buried.

News of Martin's death would have reached Harold back at Camp Bramshott, England and then made its way across the Atlantic to the Bradford family in Charlotte County, New Brunswick. On September 20, 1918, Pte. Martin Bradford's paybook balance was transferred to his next of kin, his mother Lola.

Pte. Martin B. Bradford Image on left is from solo portrait while the image on the right is from a portrait which also features Martin's brother Harold. It is likely that the photo on the left was taken first while the "dual" image was created by early imaging editing (paint, overlaying, etc.).

The war ended on November 11, 1918. With the end of the war, Canada's total casualties stood at 67,000 killed and 173,000 wounded, out of an expeditionary force of 620,000 people mobilized (39% of mobilized were casualties). Just over 1,200 men (and women) from Charlotte County, New Brunswick were part of the war effort. At least 164 of those paid the ultimate sacrifice. Approximately 19% of the population of the county served in the war. Two other Bradford men served in the war: Roland Henry Bradford and William John Bradford, sons of Martin Byrne Bradford's brother, Benjamin Franklin Bradford II and his wife Mary Emma Hickey. Few families were left untouched. An unfortunate lesson from the war, that would change the way enlistments were done for Second World War, was to avoid assigning local men to the same Unit. In many cases, Units/Battalions suffered great losses and as a result, those home communities suffered a great impact with the loss of a large number of their young men. It was called "the War to end all Wars" but unfortunately the world would be launched into another global battle once again, in twenty years short years.

Eight days after the official end of the war, Harold is admitted to the 12th Canadian General Hospital in Bramshott, England, and then discharged from the hospital on December 10th. He continues to struggle with his health as a result of contracting Nephritis. On April 3rd, 1919, he receives his Discharge Medical Examination at Bramshott. The medical examination indicates that he has a tattoo on his right forearm (of a woman's face). This tattoo was not present during his first medical examinations before he left Canada back in 1916 and it might be fair to say that the tattoo may be of either his wife or daughter.

On May 24, 1919, Eric Allison Bradford succumbs to his war injuries and dies in Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick. He is 24 years old. Stories of a damage young man are passed through the generations. Eric's severe injuries to his head affect him dramatically as he has psychotic episodes where he believes he is back in the trenches, fighting the Germans. Eventually his illness demobilizes him. Eric is buried in the Blacks Harbour Baptist Cemetery (now called the Blacks Harbour Community Cemetery). He is one of the first to be buried across the road from the church, in what appears to be a planned area in the cemetery for the village's war dead. Eric is the only one buried in this plot.

With the war done, Harold is heading back to Canada. On August 8th, 1919, Harold and a pregnant Margaret, along with daughter Kathleen, board the S. S. Corsican. They depart England via the port at Liverpool. Ship records show Harold separate from his wife and daughter (separate Military and Civilian passenger manifest). Ten days later they arrive at Quebec City, Quebec. The family travel back to New Brunswick, likely by rail. They soon acquire property in Oak Bay, Charlotte County. On November 19th, 1919, they welcome another child, a son, Richard Paul Bradford.

In a small ceremony, on August 30, 1920, the 26th (New Brunswick) Battalion, those "Fighting 26th", was disbanded, its colors and honors absorbed by the Royal New Brunswick Regiment. By the time of the 1921 Census, the Bradford family had started to span out. Harold living with his wife Margaret on their farm at Oak Bay, with their children: Kathleen and Richard. One of Harold's younger brothers, Ernest, is living with Harold and his family while working on the farm. Victor Sr. is still living back at Blacks Harbour, along with his wife, Linnie, and their five children (Victor, Doris, Edmund, Howard and Eric). Victor Sr. is a "foreman" at Connors Bros. Also in Blacks Harbour is Kathleen and her husband Warren Justason. Kathleen and Warren have six children: Lola, Harold, Basil, Robert, Gladys and Mildred. Next door to Kathleen, is her sister, Nellie, and her husband John Albert Justason. Nellie and John have two sons, Arnold and Reginald. In the western part of the county, Walter/Winnie is a lodger at the home of Mrs. Katherine Donahue on Main Street in Milltown. Mrs. Donahue is the widow of James Donahue and has seven of her children living with her, including her eldest daughter, Margaruet. Margarite and Winnie will marry the following year. Also located in Milltown are Donald and Mylo, who are boarding at the home of Mrs. Bella Watson on Main Street. They are working as "weavers" at the Cotton Mill owned by Canadian Cottons Ltd. Further outside of Charlotte County, Gladys and Freda are boarding at the old Marysville Hotel on Bridge Street in Marysville, York Co. Like Donald and Mylo, they too are working at a cotton mill owned by Canadian Cottons Ltd. While we find many of the Bradford family members in the 1921 Census, the census does not provide much detail on the location of Mrs. Lola Bradford, or the whereabouts of her other children: Millie and Theodore.

Harold's wife Margaret passes away on January 7th, 1930. Her death certificate list her age as 35 and indicates that she is also three months pregnant. Harold and his wife would a total of eight children, of which many of their descendants can still be found in the Oak Bay area. Harold passed away on December 4th, 1957 at the Charlotte County Hospital due to a heart attack. He is buried in the Oak Bay Rural Cemetery.

The Matriarch of the Bradford family, Mrs. Lola Jane (Barney) Bradford dies on May 22nd, 1949 at the age of 83. Her own eventful life was recorded in a newspaper article three year before her death. She held the distinction of being the first woman foreman for Connors Bros., as she oversaw production and training of the packing room. She had eighteen children and today, her descendants are in the hundreds. She was laid to rest, beside her husband, in the Blacks Harbour Baptist Cemetery. Only a few months later, on October 16th, Winnie Bradford died at his home on the Blacks Harbour Road in Pennfield. He was 53 years of age. He and his wife Margarite May Donahue had a total of eleven children.

The Bradford family continued to grow and expand: many of the grandchildren of Martin Byrne and Lola Bradford remain in the Blacks Harbour area and continue to work for Connors Bros. Ltd. Others, such as daughter Freda's children, settle around the Marysville/Fredericton area, while many of their daughter Gladys' family can today be found in Montreal. It may also be worth mentioning that a grandson of Donald E. Bradford made a visit to the grave of Pte. Martin B. Bradford in the 1990s. This period of time in the Bradford family adds to an already colorful history that stretches back to arriving in America on the Mayflower.

Above: Eric Bradford - Pre-Deployment "Mirror" Photo
The mirror effect was a popular portrait method during the early 1900s.

 

 

 

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Updated: 09 November 2016
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