James Smyth Bradley

[DavidJP]

Hi,

CWGC entry for Sgt James (Smyth) Bradley here: https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/741821/bradley,-james/

Listed as just plain Sgt James Bradley. Also shows that he was in the 10th Battalion, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He sadly has no known grave but is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards

David

[jim1]

He died at Greenland Hill,Arras sector.

[babykate]

Hi Jim

Thank you so much for this it has helped a lot it would be great to have the diary entry to learn more about him. He was Elizabeth and Patrick’s only son out of a family of nine they previously lost 2 other sons shortly after childbirth.

[jim1]

Your man was in 112/Bde. 37/Div. & died on the 28th. attacking Greenland Hill which is in square I.8 on the below map link. On the left blue represents the British trench system & in red German.
His Div. had fought there way from here taking the village of Monchy-les-Preux a few days earlier.
https://maps.nls.uk/view/101465068
An account from Haig is below from chapter 16.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01maf/
Below is the diary map of the 10/LNLR for the 23-27th. April 1917:
The 1st. below map is the situation on the 23rd. 10/LNLR are in reserve & waiting to move up to Cuba trench after the 1st. assault.
The 2nd. is the situation on the 28th. You can see the red squares where men from various Battalions including 10/LNLR are mixed together & taking cover in shell holes.
10/LNLR C.O. states that their biggest problem were the M.G.'s at the chemical works which were enfilading (firing side on) his men which accounted for many casualties.
Following several counter-attacks the assault was called off.

[jim1]

Continuation.
You can see from this account the C.O. was quite critical of the forward Battalions & their lack of assistance (covering fire) while they were in exposed positions & the lack of support from the rear.

[jim1]

Poster
Is this now concluded ??

[babykate]

Is there anyway for me to find out when he enlisted? Once he enlisted would he have been granted any leave to return home or would that have been unheard of in WW1?

Thanks