Bamford O J Captain 6th North Staffs Regiment
Capt. OSWALD J. BAMFORD, 1/6th The North Staffordshire Regt
Oswald Bamford came to Stonyhurst in 1894, at the age of 17, with his brother Julian, later a military Chaplain. His brother Henry had preceded him to Stonyhurst two years previously, and since their day the family has been well represented at the College by other relatives of the same name.
At school, Oswald is remembered as a serious-minded, sensible boy of determined character and genial disposition. He was just the sort of boy who would develop later into a shrewd manager of men – industrious, thoughtful and businesslike. He was the second son of Mr. S. B. Bamford, senior partner in the well known Uttoxeter firm of manufacturers of agricultural engineering implements, whose machines have a world-wide celebrity. Oswald had a natural bent for mechanical engineering, and on leaving College he entered with enthusiastic interest into the work of the firm and soon established his position as a valuable and influential partner in the business. With his elder brother Henry he had joined the Uttoxeter Territorial Company some years before the war, commanding the Company as Lieutenant on his brother’s retirement. In October, 1914, he was promoted Captain. He had been in France since August, 1915, in command of “B” Company, 1st/6th Bn. The North Staffordshire Regt., and had seen much service with them in the trenches during the two months which preceded the fight in which he fell at the head of his men.
He left a widow and two children. With his men, many of whom were his own employees in his ironworks, he was universally popular, and his senior officers had a high opinion of his military capacity. In a letter to his father, Mr. S. B. Bamford, his C.O., Col. R. F. Ratcliff, thus describes his death in front of the Hohenzollern Redoubt:- Oswald was a brave and plucky officer who did his duty really well. We had orders to advance against the German trenches, and were met by a fearful rifle and machine gun fire, which laid low so many of our men. The following extract from the Uttoxeter Advertiser describes in brief the circumstances of his gallant death on October 13th, 1915- “Letters from the front give glowing accounts of the heroic conduct of the late Capt. Oswald Bamford, commanding the Uttoxeter Company of the Burton Battalion, who so gallantly led his men in the face of a withering fire during the recent charge of the 6th North. On the order being given for the men to charge, Captain Bamford, leaping on to the parapet of the trenches, cried, “Come on, lads,” and dashed forward at the head of his men. He had not gone far, however, before he fell, and Corpl. J. Fradley, a Uttoxeter soldier, who saw service in the South African War, went to his assistance, but was himself shot down.” His popularity in his native county was well attested by the numerous Press notices in the local papers, which spoke of him in terms of high praise. The following, from the Burton Chronicle for October 28th, 1915, may be taken as an example :- “The sad news of the death of Capt. O. J. Bamford, who was killed in the recent British attack, will be received by his many friends. with deep sorrow and regret. He was educated at Stonyhurst, and like so many of his College friends, has fallen in the titanic struggle. He was the second son of Mr. S. B. Bamford, J.P., senior member of Messrs. Bamfords, agricultural engineers, Uttoxeter, in which firm he took an active part in the management of the works, particularly in the engineering branch. He became attached to the Territorials in 1909, and was gazetted Captain about twelve months ago. He went out to France in August last, when he took over the command of ‘B’ Company of the 1st/6th Bn. The North Staffordshire Regt., and was immensely popular. The many letters the family have received from the Colonel down to the men in the ranks are all in the same vein-he was a brave and plucky officer, and died a true soldier. He was highly esteemed by a wide circle of friends throughout the county. He was a prominent member of the Catholic congregation at Uttoxeter, and in the new church recently built in that town by his father, he leaves a lasting memorial in the form of a beautiful mosaic altar, the cost of which he and his brother, Mr. H. B. Bamford, contributed.”
A letter to his wife from a military Chaplain, dated October 17th, 1915, shows that Captain Bamford was well prepared to face death :-
In a little country church we assembled “to make our souls” and prepare in our Master’s company to face the danger. Capt. Bamford came forward and served my Mass that morning and went to his duties with many others. It was in the early phase of the attack that he fell shot, and died immediately. They afterwards recovered his body, and buried him with many of his companions. We had a little chat in the sacristy after Mass was over, and knowing the danger he was going into, he said: “If I am called this time, Padre, you have prepared me well; I trust all in God now.”
Source : Stonyhurst War Record