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Edward Eden Bradford

Sir Edward Eden Bradford

GCB, GBE, CVO
Bradford in 1916
Born10 December 1858
Died25 November 1935 (aged 76)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service / branch Royal Navy
RankAdmiral
Battles / wars1882 Anglo-Egyptian War
Battle of Dogger Bank (1915)
AwardsK.C.B, G.B.E., C.V.O.

Admiral Sir Edward Eden Bradford (10 December 1858 – 25 November 1935) was a British naval officer, who commanded the 3rd Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet until May 1916. He wrote the biography of Admiral of the Fleet Arthur Knyvet Wilson.

Early career

Edward Eden Bradford joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1872,[1] serving on the modern ironclad battleships Hercules, Monarch, and Sultan in the Channel Fleet.[2] He was promoted to Midshipman in 1876, and served aboard the screw-frigate Doris, the screw-corvette Danae and the iron screw-frigate Raleigh.[1] It was during this time that he passed his lieutenant's exam on 14 November 1878.[3]

Bradford was then appointed sub-lieutenant on the survey schooner Sandfly.[1] In October 1880, whilst surveying ashore in the Solomon Islands, the Sandfly's commanding officer, Lieutenant Bower, and five crewmen were murdered by the natives. Bradford took charge of the Sandfly, recovered the bodies of his shipmates, and punished the natives by burning their village. This earned him a special promotion to Lieutenant in December 1880.[4][5]

Bradford joined the old ironclad Achilles from 1881 to 1883 and took part in the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War for which he was decorated.[1][4]

He served in the China Station from 1883 to 1891 aboard the screw-corvette Sapphire and the screw-sloop Mutine. During his time on the Mutine,[6] he was made acting-commander, on 20 January 1891.[7]

In 1886, Bradford won the Royal United Services Institute's silver medal award for his essay, The Maritime Defence of the United Kingdom (including its Colonies and Dependencies), and its Trade, in a War with a Great Maritime Power, which was published in the R.U.S.I. journal.[8]

From 1894 to 1896,[9] Bradford served on Boadicea, flagship of the East Indies Squadron as commander.[1]

Bradford married his wife Sheila in June 1896.[10][11]

Captain

Bradford was promoted to captain on 30 June 1899.[12] In March 1900 he was posted to HMS President, home of the London division of the Royal Naval Reserve, for transport service in Thames District.[13] He had an essay published entitled Remarks on Organisation and Coaling in 1900.[14]

Bradford served under Admiral Sir Arthur Knyvet Wilson as his flag-captain in the modern battleships Majestic, Revenge and Exmouth.[1] He wrote a Life of Admiral of the Fleet published in 1923.

Bradford was Commodore of Chatham Naval Barracks from 1907 to 1908.[1]

Admiral

Bradford was then made Rear-Admiral of the Home Fleet, with his flag in the King Edward VII-class battleship Hibernia.[1]

He then commanded the Training Squadron aboard the armoured cruiser Leviathan from 1911 to 1913.[1]

Bradford was promoted to vice-admiral on 10 February 1914,[15] and given command of the 3rd Battle Squadron,[1] flying his flag in the battleship King Edward VII.[16] The 3rd Battle Squadron supported Admiral Beatty at Dogger Bank[1] and left the Grand Fleet in May 1916.[17]

Bradford was awarded the KCB in the 1916 New Year Honours.[18]

Retirement

At his own request, Bradford retired in 1918 with the rank of admiral.[1]

Bradford was awarded the G.B.E. on 1 January 1930.[19]

See also

  • The UK National Portrait Gallery has both a bromide print and a negative of Admiral Bradford taken in 1917 by the photographer Walter Stoneman (1876–1958).[20]
  • The National Maritime Museum has a water colour of Admiral Bradford by the artist Francis Dodd.[21]
  • Admiral Bradford's papers were presented to the National Maritime Museum in 1991 by his daughter Miss Katherine Bradford. "They mainly relate to Bradford's earlier career and include detailed log books and journals from 1873 to 1883, official progress certificates, reports, etc, as well as letters and reminiscences."[1]

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m National Maritime Museum online catalogue entry
  2. ^ National Maritime Museum catalogue box BRD/1
    National Maritime Museum catalogue box BRD/2
  3. ^ National Maritime Museum catalogue box BRD/7
  4. ^ a b National Maritime Museum catalogue box BRD/5
  5. ^ Maritime Museum catalogue box BRD/8 Official printed report: Narrative of the Proceedings of H.M. Ships 'Sandfly', 'Emerald', and 'Cormorant', in the Solomon Islands in 1880 and 1881.
  6. ^ Maritime Museum catalogue box BRD/10: Handwritten notes on the turning performance of HMS Mutine.
  7. ^ Maritime Museum catalogue box BRD/9: Handwritten notification of advancement to acting commander of HMS Mutine, 20 January 1891.
  8. ^ Maritime Museum catalogue box BRD/13: published essay – The Maritime Defence of the United Kingdom (including its Colonies and Dependencies), and its Trade, in a War with a Great Maritime Power.
  9. ^ Maritime Museum catalogue box BRD/15: handwritten list of crew members for HMS Boadicea, including the key to a group photograph.
  10. ^ Maritime Museum catalogue box BRD/23: newspaper cuttings regarding Bradford's exploits in the Solomon Islands, plus notification of Bradford's marriage and his obituary.
  11. ^ Maritime Museum catalogue box BRD/28: private letters to Bradford's wife, Sheila
  12. ^ "No. 27099". The London Gazette. 14 July 1899. p. 4345.
  13. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36091. London. 16 March 1900. p. 6.
  14. ^ Maritime Museum catalogue box BRD/29: Published essay: Remarks on Organisation and Coaling, by Capt. E.E. Bradford, R.N.
  15. ^ "No. 28801". The London Gazette. 13 February 1914. p. 1176.
  16. ^ battleships-cruisers.co.uk HMS King Edward VII
  17. ^ Royal Navy Flag Officers 1914-1918
  18. ^ Maritime Museum catalogue box BRD/11: official certificate for the creation of Bradford's K.C.B.
  19. ^ Maritime Museum catalogue box BRD/12: official certificate for the creation of Bradford's G.B.E.
  20. ^ National Portrait Gallery online index[permanent dead link‍]
  21. ^ National Maritime Museum online catague reference PAI0734 Admiral Bradford
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