Jesse Bradley

Story:
Jesse Bradley was born at Hartgrove, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 12th August 1882, the son of Thomas Edward Bradley and Sara Ann Bradley (née Rose).   He lived for a significant period of his life, except for Military Service, in the Hartgrove, East Orchard, area.   He enlisted on 11th December 1915 and was embodied on 18th March 1916 in the 3/1st Battalion of the Buckinghamshire Regiment as a Private but very quickly was transferred to the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire) Regiment (Service No. 30518).  He served in France and Flanders where he received a severe grenade wound on 15th May 1917 which necessitated the amputation of a leg as well as leaving him with a fracture of his left arm.  He was repatriated and spent time recovering at the Red Cross facility at Kimberley House, Gillingham, Dorset.  On recovery he was transferred to the Southern Counties Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 97893).  He was eventually assessed as no longer physically fit for service and discharged on 9th August 1918.   He was granted a pension and was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the Silver War Badge No. 431205.  He initially returned to East Orchard, living in Parsons Lane but by the 1921 Census was living with his brother-in-law in School Road, Gillingham, Dorset, described as a Farm Labourer - Retired Disabled.  By 1939 Register he had moved to Red House, Manston, Sturminster, Dorset, and was described as a Roadman (Disabled).  He had remained single up to this point and there is no confirmed date of his death.  His brother, Harry Bradley, also served in the conflict.