Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Charles James Bradford, an assurance company district manager, born in the July quarter of 1866 in Birmingham, Warwickshire (son of Charles Bradford and Ellen McCullock) and his wife Fanny Bradford (nee Bettridge (Betteridge), married on the 1st August 1892 in St. Peter’s Church, Binton, Warwickshire, born on the 24th September 1863 in Temple Grafton, Warwickshire and baptised on the 26th June 1864 in St. Andrew’s Church, Temple Grafton (daughter of Solomon Betteridge and Mary Tracey). Horace McCulloch was born in the April quarter of 1896 in Edgbaston, Birmingham, in March 1901 the family home was at 196, Milton Street, Walsall, Staffordshire. In April 1911 Horace was residing in the family home at 17, Bridge Street, Denbigh, Denbighshire, Wales, together with his father, a tailor’s cutter and manager and his mother. Horace’s father died on the 6th April 1913 in the Leicester Royal Infirmary aged 46, and was interred on the 10th April 1913 in Lutterworth Cemetery. Horace resided with his widowed mother at The Terrace, London Road, Lutterworth, then at High Street, Lutterworth before his mother finally moved to reside at The Terrace, Ardens Grafton, Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire.
Horace’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted in Rugby, Warwickshire into the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and was allotted the service number 11039, and posted as a Private to that Regiment’s Depot for training, subsequently being posted to the 5th Battalion. He was stationed in Salamanca Barracks, Aldershot and embarked with his Battalion on the 20th May 1915 to join the British Expeditionary Force in France, where he landed in Boulogne on the 21st May. During his service he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was on an unknown date transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire Regiment) where he was allotted the service number 45483. Nothing further is known of his military service until he was reported to have been killed in action on the 7th October 1918, while serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment. His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Vis en Artois Memorial in the Pas de Calais, France. Horace was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 7 Oct-18 – At 5:00 am “D” Company attacked and captured HOLLOW COPSE. For details see “Narration of Attack on Hollow Copse at 5:00 am on morning of 7/10/18.” At 6:30 am Battalion pushed on to the FRESNES – ROUVROY LINE.
NARRATIVE OF ATTACK on HOLLOW COPSE at 5:00 am morning 7th October 1918.
In accordance with plan “B” Company 2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment left their forming up places in front of WHINE TRENCH at 5:00 am at the same hour the barrage opened. At 5:00 am a message was received from CAPTAIN RICHARDSON, Officer Commanding “D” Company from the junction WHINE and COUNT that the Company had gone over. At 5:15 am Officer Commanding “D” Company reported that No.16 platoon had worked up North side of COPSE and had established themselves on the East side. At 5:25 am it was reported that “D” Company had reached their objective and that 4 prisoners from 83rd Regiment had been captured. At 5:45 am the dugouts at the East side of the COPSE were reported clear and one more prisoner captured. At 5:46 am Officer Commanding “D” Company reported 2 Lewis Guns established at North East and North West corners of COPSE. At 5:50 am the total captures were 5 men and 1 Machine Gun About 40 men who ran from the North East corner of the wood were engaged by Lewis Gun fire. The dispositions at this hour were as follows. 2 platoons of “D” Company East of COPSE. 1 platoon in COUNT and 1 platoon in WHINE. Post of “C” Company at C.27.a.3.4 established. The dugouts at the East end of the COPSE were reported to be in a bad state of repair and the Trench running North from COUNT AVENUE at East end of COPSE very shallow. Our casualties up to 5:05 am were. 1 KILLED and 3 WOUNDED. At 6:03 am Officer Commanding “C” Company received instructions from Battalion Headquarters to work down WIND and bomb towards FRESNES ROUVROY LINE and Officer Commanding “D” Company to work along COUNT. At 6:09 am Officer Commanding “C” Company reported that the enemy were working down WIND. The Artillery were requested to cut them off by concentrating on WIND at C.27.b.15.65 and working Eastwards. At 6:35 am orders were received from 25th Infantry Brigade to push on the FRESNES ROUVROY Line. At 7:40 am a report was received that a Patrol from “C” Company had reached point C.27.a.4.4 and were bombing an enemy strong point at C.27.a.3.5. “D” Company’s Patrol had worked along COUNT, reached a point 200 yards East of the COPSE and were pushing on. Further casualties of 1 Sergeant Wounded and 1 Other Rank Killed of “D” Company were reported and several of the enemy were killed in COUNT. At 8:40 am a message was received from Officer Commanding “D” Coy that his Patrol had reached the junction of COUNT and FRESNES ROUVROY line and was working Northwards. At 9:10 am connection was established with the 2nd RIFLE BRIGADE at C.27.d.3.9. A bombing party from the enemy worked down the FRESNES ROUVROY line from the North and pushed our party back to the junction of COUNT. 2nd Lieutenant MAURICE “D” Company was killed here by an enemy sniper. At 9:40 am Officer Commanding “C” Company reported that the enemy post at C.27.a.3.5 had been cleared and that he was pushing on up WIND. At 10:50 am a Report was received that “C” Company had reached the junction of WIND and FRESNES ROUVROY Line and were bombing down Southwards towards COUNT to gain touch with “D” Company. Enemy were reported running away from part of the FRESNES ROUVROY LINE. 1 Sergeant was reported wounded. At 11:15 am enemy seen running away from about C.21.c.80.55 towards CHALK TRENCH. At 11:40 am Officer Commanding “C” Company reported that he had cleared the ROUVROY LINE between WIND and COUNT gaining touch with “D” Company and capturing 1 Officer and 21 Other Ranks and 2 Machine Guns. Captured by “D” Company 1 Officer and 15 Other Ranks. At 12:10 pm Officer Commanding “ “ Company received instructions from Battalion Headquarters to push along the ROUVROY LINE Northwards from WIND and establish platoon posts at the junctions of GAVRELLE ROAD, CHOW, CHALK, CORN and a post at C.15.c.9.1. “B” Company were given instructions to move up to take over the following dispositions: - 2 platoons along WIND. 1 platoon along CHEAPSIDE and 1 platoon along CHUTNEY and CURRY. Estimated enemy casualties to 2:00 pm. 30 KILLED. 80 WOUNDED. PRISONERS 2 Officers and 41 Other Ranks. BOOTY 3 Heavy Machine Guns. At 2:40 pm Officer Commanding “C” Company reported that he had reached a point just short of the junction of CORN. At 3:25 pm a report was received from “B” Company that they were in position. At 3:45 pm information from Brigade was received that the Unit on our LEFT was meeting with considerable opposition in front of OPPY. At 6:00 pm Orders were received from Brigade that 2 Companies of EAST LANCASHIRE REGIMENT were to work their way up CORN and thence along CRANE to the North and South as far as C.15.c.95.70 and the CRUCIFIX respectively. At 3:00 pm 2nd RIFLE BRIGADE took over the portion of the FRESNES ROUVROY LINE between WIND and COUNT AVENUE held by “D” Company and at 5:00 pm the HOLLOW COPSE defences were taken over by 2nd RIFLE BRIGADE from “D” Company. “D” Company moved back to KILKERRAN SUPPORT and took up the following position: - 1 platoon CHICO SUPPORT. 1 platoon at junction of WILLIE SUPPORT and TOWY ALLEY with Company Headquarters at B.30.a.3.5. Determined efforts were made by “C” Company to reach their final objective by securing the junction of CHALK and CORN and then get in touch with the UNIT on left at C.15.c.9.1. Great difficulty was experienced owing to the enemy strong post at junction of CHALK and also to the fact that the Troops were attacking uphill over new and unreconnoitered ground and were further handicapped by the darkness of the night. The strong post was attacked over ground Lewis Guns opened fire from the Flanks and simultaneously the post was rushed by Bombing parties. Many of the enemy escaped over ground some were killed and 1 Wounded Prisoner, remained in our hands bringing the Total of prisoners up to 2 Officers and 42 Other Ranks. At 5:30 am the junction of CHALK and CORN were reported taken and at 7:20 am a message was received that point C.15.c.9.1 had been reached and that we were in touch with the 1st WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT on our left at C.15.c.9.1 and with the 2nd RIFLE BRIGADE on our Right at C.21.d.75.20. The four platoon posts already mentioned were consolidated and Liaison posts established on either Flank. 2 Companies of 2nd EAST LANCASHIRE REGIMENT moved up at 5:00 am to perform the duties already mentioned. At 7:00 am Officer Commanding “A” Company reported that the 2 platoons detailed to clear WIND had removed all blocks during the night and the Trench was passable and that his remaining 2 platoons had delivered Rations to our Troops in the FRESNES ROUVROY Line. At 7:30 am orders were issued for the redistribution of the Battalion in depth from the FRESNES ROUVROY Line to KILKERRAN SUPPORT, both inclusive, with the object of resting the Troops as much as possible. As a result of the days operations HOLLOW COPSE was captured. The total length of approximately 3,500 yards of hostile Trench cleared of the enemy. 2 Officers and 44 Other Ranks captured and three Heavy Machine Guns taken. Our approximate casualties amount to: - 1 Officer Killed, 3 Other Ranks Killed and 1 Wounded.
Signed ----Lieut. Colonel, Commanding 2nd Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment, 9th October 1918.