William Macdonald Bradshaw

[Trubs]

Trying to trace information about my father, William Bradshaw (known as Mac). Deceased mid to late 1950s in Nairobi, Kenya. Was Resident Secretary at Muthaiga Country Club at the time. During early 1940s had been based Kikondja and Kabongo Mission Stations, in the Belgian Congo, and became a war time chaplain in East Africa, during the Second World War. Any information gratefully received.

[Rosinish]

Hi,

Is it possible to add more details please such as when/where born to whom, who/where married (as long as deceased)?

Annie

[Priscilla]

Is this 'your' William Macdonald Bradshaw listed here ... ?

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37369/supplement/5844/data.pdf

[Trubs]

Hi Annie

Born Preston (Lancs), 10 Dec 1903 or 1904. Unable to find parents his details. Haven't traced his birth certificate. Married my mother, Phyllis Mary, who was based at Kisanga, one of the Congo Evangelistic Mission stations - early 1944. They slipped over the border to Northern Rhodesia to get married. Wedding officiated by one Ronald Sinclair, later Sir Ronald who became head of the Court of Appeal (East Africa), in Nairobi. Sir R and Lady S remained lifelong friends of Mac and Phyllis. They travelled the 120 miles to Kamina (Railway maternity hospital run by nuns) for my birth. After the war moved to Ndola (N Rhodesia), then Dar es Salaam, and finally Nairobi (Kenya).

Rob

[Trubs]

Many thanks, Priscilla.  Looks quite likely & I'll submit those details to the MOD on their Request for Information Form.

Rob

[Galium]

If you search FreeBMD there is only one William Macdonald Bradshaw born around the time you state. This child was registered in Wigan district in March Q 1905. 

[Galium]

There is a family tree on Ancestry which shows William Macdonald Bradshaw born in Standish as the son of John Bradshaw and Polly née Farrimond.  Siblings are Elizabeth Jane; James William and John.  There is also a Florence Bradshaw (not mentioned in the tree) born in Wigan district December Q 1911 with mother's maiden name Farrimond
Lancashire Online Parish Clerk:    http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/indexp.html

Shows the marriage of John Bradshaw and Polly Farrimond taking place at St Wilfrid, Standish on 6 November 1897.
John is a collier aged 20 s/o John Bradshaw  engineer (deceased)
Polly is a pit bank girl aged 21 d/o John Farrimond collier
Witnesses are James Macdonald and Alice Farrimond

[BillBradshaw]

One problem I have with the Gazette listing is the bold/capitals.

The person being looked for is indeed 'William MacDonald Bradshaw' (MacDonald being a middle name.)

The Gazette lists "William MACDONALD-BRADSHAW" which makes me question whether the surname of the person listed was actually 'MACDONALD-BRADSHAW', not simply BRADSHAW, and it could just be one of those weird co-incidences? It could also be a typo!

The missing WMB we are searching for was in active service around this time and it is tempting to believe this was him so I'd like to hear everyones thoughts on that please? I should mention - the WMB we are looking for is my grandfather (I am son of Trubs)

[Galium]

The Kenya Gazette (you may need to scroll down a little to see it)

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01gn3/

lists his death as occurring on 29 January 1958.