George Nicholson Bradford
Lieutenant Commander, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 115 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant Commander all Lieutenant-Commanders →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: HMS Iris II) all HMS Iris II VCs →
- Date of action
- 22–23 April 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 17th March 1919 on this day → all of 1919 →
- Born
- 23rd April 1887 at Darlington, County Durham
- Died
- 23rd April 1918 at Zeebrugge, Belgium
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- at Blankenberge Communal Cemetery, Belgium
Digest of citation
On 22/23rd April, 1918 at Zeebrugge, Belgium, Lieutenant Commander Bradford Commanding the Naval storming parties embarked in HMS Iris II found there was great difficulty in placing the Parapet anchors when the ship came alongside the Mole. Although securing the ship was not part of his duties, the Lieutenant Commander climbed a derrick which was projecting out over the Mole and, under heavy fire, with the derrick crashing against the Mole because of the violent tossing of the ship, he picked his moment and jumped with the anchor. He had just placed it in position when he was killed
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BRADFORD, George Nicholson. (Reg No.115)
Lieutenant Commander. Royal Navy London Gazetted on 17th March 1919.
Born on 23rd April 1887 at Darlington, County Durham.
Died on 23rd April 1918 at Zeebrugge, Belgium.
Memorial on grave at Blankenberge Communal Cemetery, Belgium.
Digest of Citation reads: On 22/23rd April, 1918 at Zeebrugge, Belgium, Lieutenant Commander Bradford Commanding the Naval storming parties embarked in HMS Iris II found there was great difficulty in placing the Parapet anchors when the ship came alongside the Mole. Although securing the ship was not part of his duties, the Lieutenant Commander climbed a derrick which was projecting out over the Mole and, under heavy fire, with the derrick crashing against the Mole because of the violent tossing of the ship, he picked his moment and jumped with the anchor. He had just placed it in position when he was killed.
Additional information: He was the brother of Lt-Colonel Roland Boys Bradford VC.
Additional information
He was the brother of Lt-Colonel Roland Boys Bradford VC.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Blankenberge Communal Cemetery, Belgium
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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