Bradshaw F S Captain Somerset Light Infantry
CAPTAIN F. S. BRADSHAW Somerset Light Infantry
Aged 31
Dec. 19th, 1914
Son of the late Major Frank Boyd Bradshaw, 13th Somerset Light Infantry, and of Catharine Douglas Bradshaw, and great-grandson of General Laurence Bradshaw, also of the Somerset Light Infantry.
R.M.C., Sandhurst, 1902. Captain Bradshaw joined the Somerset Light Infantry, the Regiment in which he had been born and bred, in 1904, and was promoted Captain in 1914. For five years he served with his Regiment in India, where he was well known as a Polo player, and did much big game shooting and pig-sticking. In 1911 he went to the Depot at Taunton for three years, and rejoined his Regiment at Colchester, in March, 1914.
He went to the Front with the 11th Infantry Brigade, 4th Division, which, before leaving, was quartered at Harrow, in August, 1914. He took part in the Retreat from Mons, and was present at the Battles of Le Cateau, the Marne, the Aisne, Le-Gheer and the 1st Battle of Ypres. On November 2nd, 1914, he was wounded in the right hand, but refused, contrary to all advice, to be sent home. On November 22nd he returned to his Regiment, and was killed in the attack of December 19th, at Ploegsteert Wood. His Company was in reserve at the time, but seeing a brother-officer fall at the head of one of the attacking platoons, without a moment’s hesitation he jumped up and took command, being himself killed soon after.
A private in his Company writes:-
“His death is very much regretted by the whole Company, because they could always trust him. He would never send his men where he would not go himself. He was an exceptionally brave man, and knew his work, and it would be very difficult to find his equal.”
Source : Harrow Memorials Of The Great War 1914-1918 Vol 1
BRADSHAW, FRANK SEYMOUR, Capt., 1st Battn. Prince Albert’s Somerset L.I. (the old 13th), only s. of the late Major Frank Boyd Bradshaw (12th Somerset L.I.), by his wife, Catherine Douglas, dau. of Capt. Loftus Nunn, late 99th Regt., and great-grandson of Gen. Lawrence Bradshaw, some time commanding 13th L.I.; b. Weston-super-Mare, co. Somerset, 4 Dec. 1883; educ. East Sheen, Harrow and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 23 Jan. 1904, and promoted Lieut. 12 June, 1906, and Capt. Nov. 1914. He was killed in action at Ploegsteert Wood, 19 Dec. 1914, and was buried near Somerset House there; unm. One of Capt. Bradshaw’s men wrote: “His death is much regretted by the whole company, because they could always trust him. He would never send his men where he would not go himself. He was an exceptionally brave man, and knew his work, and it will be very difficult to find his equal.”
Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1