Soldier Record

Private Edward Bradburn 16378 was the son of Charles and Louisa Bradburn, of 50 West Street Lower Broughton, Salford. He was my great uncle on my mother's side. Before the war Edward had worked for eight years for Messrs Chorlton of Strangeways, Manchester. He joined the 1st Battalion of the Manchester Regiment on 11 January 1915, and was sent to the depot at Ashton two days later, after which he completed his training at Riley Camp near Grimsby. He was then allowed a furlough at Whitsuntide and on his return back to camp, the draft of which he had been selected had departed for France: he followed on. Ten days later he was in the trenches in France. Edward was killed on 9 August 1915. The first information his parents had of his death was a letter from Private Bernard Campbell, a pal of Edward.

Edward was killed on 9 August 1915.

"Dear Mrs Bradburn,

Just a few lines hoping you are in the best of health. I dare say you will have heard the news of the death of your son Edward, I am very sorry to have to write you such a letter but I thought it would be as well to let you know if you haven't already heard. I have lost my best pal, I could not take to anybody else only Edward, I enlisted the same day as he did and we slept together at Ashton Depot, we also slept together at Riley Camp, we were in the same dug-out in the first lot of trenches in fact we never have been parted till he met his death. I miss him I can tell you.

On the morning that Edward got killed we were having our breakfast together just an hour before the accident occurred I was standing near him when he got hit, I just escaped it, but how I did God only knows, it made my blood go cold with fright. About five minutes after I came out to clean my rifle and I was hit in the neck with a bullet and was sent to hospital, but I have got over that now and was discharged from hospital last Thursday and sent to convelescent camp for a day or two. Your sons death was instananeous, he suffered no pain and was buried in a decent heros grave. I have had news of that while I was in hospital, so I would not upset myself if I was you, you can always say that your son died a hero and not a dirty slacker like many in Salford and Manchester yet. If I ever get home I have something for you as a keep-sake, I am wearing the belt of your son I never wore one before but I will wear this until I am able to hand it over to you in memory of your loving and brave-hearted son. It was a very near thing for us to die together but they say two good chums always get parted and I believe it now.

Dear Mrs Bradburn I think I told you all this time, hoping you will answer by return and let me know if you have had news before, which I hope you have, I am only here for a few days."