Personal Details | |
Date of Birth | September 19, 1891 |
Place of Birth | Peterborough |
Country | England |
Marital Status | Single |
Next of Kin | Elizabeth Bradley, mother. 18 Thistlemoor Road, Peterborough, England |
Trade / Calling | Fireman |
Religion | Presbyterian |
Service Details | |
Regimental Number | 439062 |
Service Record | Link to Service Record |
Battalion | 40th Battalion |
Force | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Branch | Canadian Infantry |
Enlisted / Conscripted | Enlisted |
Address at Enlistment | Kenora, Ontario |
Date of Enlistment | December 28, 1914 |
Age at Enlistment | 23 |
Theatre of Service | Great Britain |
Prisoner of War | No |
Survived War | Yes |
Death Details | |
Date of Death | June 20, 1971 |
Age at Death | 80 |
Buried At | Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario |
Plot | 0E-3-5 |
Born in Peterborough, England, Walter was the son of Frederick James Bradley and Elizabeth Ireland (maiden name of mother). Walter’s siblings were 2 older brothers Ernest and John (known as Jerry) and 1 younger brother Frank. His parents remained in England while both Walter and Ernest immigrated to Canada. The brothers were among a few other young lads from Peterborough who came to Kenora to work for the Canadian Pacific Railroad and took up residence at the Y.M.C.A. This building was conveniently located across from the Kenora railroad station.
When Canada entered the war the ‘Peterborough boys’ answered the call for recruits. By the end of the year, 1914, some of the lads from Kenora known as the ‘Peterborough Boys’ were officially in the army. Among these young men from Kenora were both the Bradley brothers, Ernest Bradley and Walter. Both were assigned to the 52nd Battalion and fought overseas. Ernest survived, as did Walter, and returned to Kenora. Frank, their younger brother had joined up with the Northants in England and was killed early in the war.
Upon returning home after the war Walter married a Kenora girl, Maude Coppard. Maude was born in Kenora (then known by Rat Portage). The railroad work and the war ‘took it’s toll’ on Walter; he was losing his hearing. This disability caused him to lose his job with the railroad. Becoming self employed Walter hired himself out around town doing odd jobs, particularly house painting or wallpapering.
They made their family home in the ‘Lakeside area’ in Kenora. There they raised their 7 children; Frank, Bob, Bill, June, Mae, Allan and Pete. Walter and Maude’s son, Bill, later lost his life in the 2nd World War. Frank and Bob also served in WW2 and were fortunate to return home.
Walter and Maude’s family were raised with the Anglican faith. Family members state that their father Walter was 82 when he died, therefore his tombstone states 1889 as his birth year. In 1971 Walter had a stroke and was hospitalized but unfortunately he didn’t recover and passed away. Maude died just over 1 year later in 1972. Both are buried together in the Lake of the Woods Cemetery in Kenora.
By Linda Pelletier
Obituary is from the Kenora Miner and News.