Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Bradshaw a publican, born 1856 in Enderby, Leicestershire and his wife Eliza Bradshaw (nee Herbert, married on the 3rd July 1877 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), born 1858 in Enderby. Frank was born on the 25th March 1886 in Enderby and was baptised on the 5th October 1890 in the Parish Church, Enderby, his siblings were Alfred, born 12th January 1878, Harry, born 9th February 1880, Edith, born 29th November 1881, John (Tom), born 11th February 1884 and Arthur, born on the 15th June 1888 in Enderby, and baptised on the 5th October 1890 in the Parish Church, Enderby, all his siblings were born in Enderby, in April 1891 the family home was at The Plough Inn, Mill Lane, Enderby. In March 1901 Frank was employed as an office clerk and was residing in the family home at Mill Hill, Enderby, together with his father, a licensed victualler, his mother and siblings, Alfred, a quarry trade sett maker, Edith, a dress maker, Tom, a carpenter’s apprentice, Arthur and Clara, born 7th March 1892 in Enderby. In April 1911 Frank was employed as a clerk and was residing in the family home at Mill Lane, Enderby, together with his now retired publican father, his mother and siblings, Tom and Clara. His younger brother Arthur died and was buried at sea, and his older brother Harry fell in action. Frank’s father died on the 23rd June 1921 aged 65 and his mother died on the 20th August 1935, aged 78, they are both interred in St. John the Baptist Churchyard, Enderby. Reproduced is the Grant of Probate dated 23rd March 1918: Frank Bradshaw - This is the Last Will and Testament of me Frank Bradshaw, of John St, Enderby, Nr Leicester in the County of Leicester made this fourteenth day of December in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Sixteen. I hereby revoke all Wills by me at any time heretofore made. I appoint Alfred Bradshaw, Grocer etc, of Cross St, Enderby, Nr Leicester to be my Executor and I direct that all my just debts and Funeral and Testamentary Expenses shall be paid as soon as possible after my decease. I hereby give and bequeath unto Clarice Leah Hill, of King St, Whetstone, Nr Leicester the sum of Twenty five Pounds, for several years of true comradeship, & to my sister Clara Bradshaw of John St, Enderby the sum of Twenty five Pounds.
The remainder I leave to my dear mother of John St, Enderby, Nr Leicester, believing her, to be able to deal with it in a fair & satisfactory manner.
I should like to draw attention to a wish, that the money whether used in a lump sum, or drawn upon in small amounts, should as far as possible be used to relieve any unfortunate happenings in the family.
Such as help to bring up the children of my sister who has unfortunately lost her husband in this dreadful war, & also to help the daughter of my brother Harry who also has lost his life, in this same war. The foregoing does not debar a further sum being given to Clarice Leah Hill, should my mother so wish it & consider it justifiable.
The money is invested in the following
£200 4½ % War Loan.
£100. Share Leicester Permanent Building Society Enderby Coop Society Penny Bank Enderby Co-op Society Share Capital Post Office Savings Bank John Bull & Mrs Bull Shares.
Frank Bradshaw
Signed, published and declared by the said Testator as, and for his last Will and Testament, in presence of us, who, at his request in his presence, and in presence, and in presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.
Clement Shipley Garner
Sidney E. Williams
On the twenty third day of March 1918 Probate of this Will was granted at Leicester to Alfred Bradshaw the Brother, the sole Executor.
Frank attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War, with the Colours and in the Army Reserve.) on the 6th December 1915 in Leicester. He gave his full address as John Street, Enderby, Leicestershire, his age as 29 years and 245 days and his trade or calling as clerk. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father, George Bradshaw of John Street, Enderby as his next of kin, and his religion as Church of England. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5 inches in height, weighed 150 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 36½ inches. His physical development was described as good. After attestation on the 6/12/15 in Leicester he was transferred as Private, service number 26795 to the Army Reserve on the 7/12/15. Mobilized on the 29/3/16. Posted to the Leicestershire Regiment Depot on the 29/3/16. Transferred to the 83rd Training Reserve Battalion and allotted the service number 52090, on the -?-. Promoted to Lance Corporal on the 14/8/16. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 15/12/16. Joined the 37th Infantry Base Depot on the 18/12/16. Posted to the 12th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, and allotted the service number 37350 on the 18/12/16. Joined the 12th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, in the field on the 20/12/16. Killed in action on or after the 3/5/17. A summary of his service records: Enlistment, 6/12/15 – 6/12/15, 1 day. Reserve 7/12/15 - 28/3/16, 112 days. Home Service, 29/3/16 – 14/12/16, 261 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 15/12/16 – 3/5/17, 139 days. Total service 1 year 148 days. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Frank’s father George Bradshaw on the 24th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by G. V. Young, Magistrate, Blaby Road, Enderby on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, George Bradshaw of John Street, Enderby. Mother of soldier, Eliza Bradshaw of John Street, Enderby. Full blood brothers of soldier, Alfred Bradshaw, age 41 of -?-. Tom Bradshaw, age 35 of John Street, Enderby. Full blood sisters of soldier, Edith Price, age 37 of John Street, Enderby. Clara Bradshaw, age 27 of John Street, Enderby. Frank’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 1-2 May-17 – SHEET 51B FRANCE. B.25.b. 11.00pm. Left the German trenches at B.25.b and reoccupied the Railway Cutting in B.21.c. Battalion moved up into assembly positions in No Man’s Land at B.18.b.0.5 with the 11th Battalion EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT on the right and the Composite Brigade of the 2nd Division on our left. Our right flank was the Northern boundary of OPPY WOOD, the left flank, a line drawn through B.12.c.8.4 to C.7.a.7.1, the final objective being from C.7.a.7.1 to C.7.d.2.5.
The assembling took place in brilliant moonlight over quite unknown country and with -?- guides. The enemy evidently saw the troops assembling and put up an intense barrage followed by another one later. This considerably disorganised things and at Zero hour, the blackest part of the night, the troops moved forward to the attack. They failed to obtain their objectives and were compelled to withdraw to the assembly trench where they remained all day under heavy shellfire.
The War Diary records: 3 May-17 – 10.00pm. The Battalion was relieved at 10.00pm by the 1st Battalion EAST LANCASHIRE REGIMENT. In casualties please see attached list. Honours, 5 Military Medals. See attached. Moved out of the line to nissen hut camp at G.4.a.
Casualties.
Killed, officers 2, 2nd Lieutenant (Acting Captain) WILLIAM B. CARROLL. Temporary 2nd Lieutenant A.R. DUGUID.
Other ranks 7.
Missing, officers 6, 2nd Lieutenant H. C. JENNINGS, Temporary 2nd Lieutenant’s W. R. HIGNETT, J. S. HALL, J. E. CARRALL, E. P. COOPER, C. FENWICK.
Other ranks 150.
Wounded, officers 1, Temporary 2nd Lieutenant A. R. GRAVES.
Other ranks 127.
Died of wounds, officers 1 Temporary 2nd Lieutenant P. MOORE.
Joined for duty officers 2, Temporary Lieutenant LLOYD C. HUTCHINSON, Temporary 2nd Lieutenant W. F. A. BUXTON.
Other ranks 3.