Old Hulmeians War Memorial 1914 - 1919

REGINALD ERNEST BRADLEY

6 September 1892 - 23 December 1916

At School 1901 - 1902

2nd Lieut Royal Engineers

Reginald was born in Prestwich, Manchester, and in 1901, aged 8, was living at 191 Upper Chorlton Road, with father Francis, a Barrister at Law and Solicitor, mother Bessie, younger siblings Mary and Lionel, and three domestic servants. Reginald joined School in 1910 from Whalley Range High but only stayed one year before moving to Lawrence House, a preparatory school in St Annes-on-the-Sea and then on to Haileybury College in Hertfordshire. In 1909 he entered Manchester University as an Arts Student and was a member of the Officer Training Corps from 1909 to 1911. By 1911 the family had moved to Stormarm, Wilbraham Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy and Reginald was working as an articled clerk in the firm of Neild Son & Lees, Chartered Accountants.

Reginald attested in Bristol on 8th October 1914, joining the Royal Engineers Motor Cyclist Section. He is described as 5 ft 9¼ inches tall, weighing 150 lbs with a 38 inch chest, fresh complexion blue eyes and brown hair.

The Motor Cyclist Section of the Special Reserve of the Royal Engineers was formed in 1913. Other Ranks would be expected to provide their own motor cycle and to maintain it up to certain specifications. To cover their fuel, running costs and damage they would receive 8 Shillings per day when at training camp or otherwise specially employed (equivalent to a week’s worth of pay for an infantry Private). The men would have to begin their service with a period of 15 days continuous training and to commit to annual training of 15 days per year. In September 1913, newspapers confirmed that “On being approved, recruits are immediately promoted to the rank of Corporal, and will draw the pay of their rank at camp [along with the 8 Shillings per day allowance].

Reginald was appointed Corporal the day after he enlisted and proceeded to France on 26th October.

The Hulmeian – April 1917

Old Hulmeians and the War

Deaths

Second Lieutenant R E BRADLEY, R.E., who died of wounds on December 23^rd, was at the School from September 1901 to April 1902, afterwards continuing his education at Haileybury College and Manchester University. He was 24 years of age. He was articled as a chartered accountant student to Mr J M Lees (Neild Son & Lees), of Manchester. He went out to France in October, 1914, as a motor cyclist despatch rider with the rank of corporal, and was present at Neuve Chapelle, the two battles of La Bassee, and other engagements of 1915. Early in 1916, he came over to England to train for a commission in the Royal Engineers, and was gazetted Second Lieutenant on July 2^nd. He went out again on October 21^st, and had been at the front just nine weeks when he was killed.

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