Albert Russell Mills Bradbury

A Private with the 11th Battalion. Albert died on 28th of April 1917 at the age of 27. 

Albert was born at Lowestoft on 7 May 1889, a son of George and Ann Elizabeth Bradbury: his father was a fish merchant. Albert was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 7 June 1889.  

In 1891 Albert's family lived at High Street, Llanstadwell. By 1901 they were living at 32 Milton Road, Lowestoft, and later his parents' address would be Tweedside, Milton Road. In 1911 Albert was living with his parents and working as a clerk in the family business and later he became a fish merchant.

Before the First World War Albert served for 18 months with the Royal Field Artillery Volunteers. Albert enlisted in the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion Suffolk Regiment, number 2003, at Saxmundham, on 24 November 1914. He was discharged, medically unfit, three days later.   

Some time later Albert enlisted in the Army again, at Lowestoft, and again joined the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion, number 2168. Later he was posted to serve with the 11th Battalion Suffolk Regiment, number 43424. 

On 26 April 1917 the 11th Battalion were at the railway cutting south-west of Fampoux. On 27 April they received orders to prepare for an attack on Rouex the next morning. By 3 a.m. on the 28th they were in position and at 4.25 a.m. a barrage commenced with the battalion beginning the attack at 4.27 a.m. By 5 a.m. the attack was both held up and driven back by heavy machine-gun fire from a trench that had been missed by the preliminary barrage. About half of the battalion had returned to the front line trench and at 9.45 a.m. the Germans made a counter-attack from the direction of Rouex and were able to capture Mount Pleasant Wood and a communication trench called Ceylon Trench. The battalion held the front line and by 10 a.m. had recaptured Ceylon Trench and Mount Pleasant Wood. Next the battalion were moved into support line trenches while the British heavy artillery laid down a bombardment on the Chemical Works at Rouex. Late in the day the battalion returned to the front line trenches.  

Albert was killed in action on 28 April. 

Albert's brother George Hartley Bradbury died in 1921 as a result of wounds sustained in the war.