BRADLEY, H G,
Driver, Royal Field Artillery, was born 27 September 1870, at 5 Huntingdon
Street, Kingsland, son of Edward Thomas Bradley, of Barnet. He entered the
Royal Field Artillery as Driver, and served in the Boer War of 1899 to
1902. He displayed great gallantry at Itala, when Major Chapman and his
little garrison made their splendid defence against Botha. Sixteen hundred
Boers attacked in the early morning, and our men—mostly Mounted
Infantry—held their ground for nineteen hours, inflicting a loss of five
hundred killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. Lieutenant Kane, of the South
Lancashires, died at his post, shouting: "No surrender, men!" and we lost
heavily, but we kept our position against overwhelming odds. During the
fight ammunition ran short at the top of a steep hill, one hundred and fifty
yards from the main body, and Major Chapman, of the Dublin Fusiliers, called
for volunteers to carry some up. It was then that Driver Bradley won the
Victoria Cross, and Driver Lancashire and Gunners Bull, Rabb and Boddy the
Distinguished Conduct Medal. Bradley's Victoria Cross was gazetted 27
December 1901: "H G Bradley, Driver, Royal Field Artillery. Date of Act of
Bravery: 20 September 1901. During the action at Itala, Zululand, on the
26th September 1901, Major Chapman called for volunteers to carry ammunition
up the hill; to do this a space of about 150 yards, swept by a heavy
cross-fire, had to be crossed. Driver Lancashire and Gunner Bull at once
came forward and started, but half-way across Driver Lancashire fell
wounded; Driver Bradley and Gunner Bull, without a moment's hesitation, ran
out and caught Driver Lancashire up, and Gunner Rabb carried him under
cover, the ground being swept by bullets the whole time. Driver Bradley
then, with the aid of Gunner Boddy, succeeded in getting the ammunition up
the hill". He was promoted to Bombardier, received the Queen's Medal with
five clasps, and the King's Medal with two clasps. His Victoria Cross was
presented to him by Lord Kitchener at Pretoria on Peace Thanksgiving Day.
