Edward Eden Bradford

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Rear-Admiral E. E. Bradford

Admiral SIR Edward Eden Bradford, G.B.E., K.C.B., C.V.O., Royal Navy (10 December, 1858 – 26 November, 1935) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Australia Station

On 20 June, 1878, Bradford was appointed Acting Sub-Lieutenant. On 23 January, 1880 he received a Second Class Gunnery Certificate. On 7 February he was appointed to the Wolverine, additional, for the Sandfly.[1] Bradford was appointed to H.M. Schooner Sandfly on 24 January, 1880 on the Australia Station. He and the commander, Lieutenant James St. Clair Bower, were the only two officers on the ship.

In October Lieutenant Maxwell and a surveying party of six men went to Mandilana Island in the Solomon Islands, leaving Sandfly under Bradford's charge anchored off the far end of nearby Florida Island. Chief Kalikaona of Florida Island had stated that he would not eat until skulls had been presented him in the traditional manner. Two of his chiefs, Utomati and Voreea, obliged and sent a boy to investigate Bower's party and ascertain whether they were armed and vigilant. The boy visited the party, sold them fruit and reported that the British sailors had left their rifles and ammunition in their boat and were busy surveying.

Bower had searched the immediate vicinity upon landing at Mandilana Island, and was under the impression that the area was clear. He then allowed five of his ratings to bathe in the sea while he and Able Seaman Savage went to examine the beach. The bathers were then attacked by the natives and overwhelmed — one seaman named Venton knocking out two assailants before being killed. Seamen Carn, O'Neill, Paterson and Buckle were also murdered, and then decapitated. The native party then hauled the boat up from the water's edge in the knowledge that whoever was left would not be able to drag it back to the sea. Bower and Savage hid in the bush, having witnessed the massacre but being unable to intervene.

During the night Savage swam to Florida Island in an attempt to reach Sandfly, and eventually reached her five days later with the help of friendly natives. Bower hid in a tree, but next morning was spotted and shot dead by Utomati with one of the rifles taken from the dead sailors. Bower's head was removed, and his arms and legs along with those of his dead men were cut off and lined up on the beach.

Bradford had meanwhile waited in vain for the return of Bower and his party, and the next day searched the area and

He was specially promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 1 December, 1880.[2]

Commander

Bradford was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1894.[3]

On 12 December, 1895, Bradford was appointed to the new battleship Majestic.[4]

Captain

Bradford was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1899.[5]

He was appointed command of the battleship Revenge on 21 May, 1903.[6]

On the occasion of the visit of the French fleet to Britain Bradford was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) on 11 August, 1905.[7]

On the occasion of the King's visit to Portsmouth to launch the battleship Dreadnought Bradford was appointed a Commander in the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) on 10 February, 1906.[8]

He was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King on 16 December, 1907, vice Galloway.[9]

Flag Rank

Bradford was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 5 November, 1908, vice Kingsford.[10]

He succeeded James Startin as Rear-Admiral of the Second Division of the Home Fleet on 9 October, 1909.[11]

Bradford was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 10 February, 1914, vice Jackson.[12]

Great War

On 1 January, 1916, he was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.).[13]

Bradford was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 2 July, 1917, vice Briggs.[14]

Bradford was placed on the Retired List at his own request, "in order to facilitate the promotion of younger officers", on 11 March, 1918.[15]

He was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (G.B.E.) on 1 January, 1930.[16]

See Also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Bradford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. p. 187.
  2. ↑ London Gazette: no. 24912. p. 6674. 10 December, 1880.
  3. ↑ London Gazette: no. 26534. p. 4154. 20 July, 1894.
  4. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 18 November, 1895. Issue 34737, col E, pg. 7.
  5. ↑ London Gazette: no. 27099. p. 4345. 14 July, 1899.
  6. ↑ Bradford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 676.
  7. ↑ London Gazette: no. 27826. p. 5532. 11 August, 1905.
  8. ↑ London Gazette: no. 27885. p. 1037. 13 February, 1906.
  9. ↑ London Gazette: no. 28091. p. 8876. 20 December, 1907.
  10. ↑ London Gazette: no. 28193. p. 8028. 6 November, 1908.
  11. ↑ Hazell's Annual, 1910. p. 199.
  12. ↑ London Gazette: no. 28801. p. 1176. 13 February, 1914.
  13. ↑ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29423. p. 79. 31 December, 1915.
  14. ↑ London Gazette: no. 30161. p. 6550. 3 July, 1917.
  15. ↑ London Gazette: no. 30599. p. 3756. 26 March, 1918.
  16. ↑ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 33566. p. 6. 1 January, 1930.

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Sir Edward Bradford" (Obituaries). The Times. Tuesday, 26 November, 1935. Issue 47231, col B, pg. 16.

Papers

Images

  • Francis Dodd portrait in the possession of the Imperial War Museum. Catalogue Number IWM ART 4038.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
James Startin 		Rear-Admiral in the Second Division, Home Fleet
1909 – 1910 		Succeeded by
George E. Patey
Preceded by
Arthur M. Farquhar 		Rear-Admiral Commanding,
Fourth Cruiser Squadron
1911 – 1913 		Succeeded by
Sir Christopher G. F. M. Cradock
Preceded by
Sir Lewis Bayly 		Vice-Admiral Commanding,
Third Battle Squadron
1914 - 1916 		Succeeded by
Sir John M. de Robeck
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