153935 W/S Lieut. (T/ Captain) James BRADLEY 13 Infantry Brigade 5 Division 13 Corps 2nd Bn. The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers During the battle of CATANIA on 18-19 July 43 this officer displayed outstanding courage and devotion to duty, as a result of which the Bn was able to beat off a number of German attacks and deny them their objective. 1. Captain Bradley was Bn Intelligence Officer and was with Adv. Bn. H.Q. on 18 Jul 43 when the Bn was engaged in seizing a bridgehead over the SIMETO river. Owing to a loop of the river thousand yards SOUTH of the bridge over the SIMETO no tpt could get to the rifle coys. Wireless communications early broke down and control of the Bn had to be exercised personally and by runner. The Germans counter-attacked with tanks and infantry when only one Coy had got across the river,and from approx 2130 hrs the Bn area remained under intense Mortar, M.G. and Small Arms fire. Captain Bradley was invaluable to me in maintaining the control necessary to fight the Bn. Throughout the night he moved everywhere under heavy fire, sometimes at ranges of 40 yards, without regard to his own safety. On two occassions when part of 14 Pl was penetrated and gave ground he personally led them back and counter-attacked with bomb and bayonet, threw the enemy back in hand-to-hand fighting, and re-established them in position. 2. It is beyond doubt but for this officer's work, courage and leadership, the Germans would have obtained a footing on the bridge during darkness from which it would have been most costly, if not impossible, to eject them before they had blown the bridge. I cannot express too much my admiration for the calm courage displayed by this officer in most confusing and difficult circumstances. His conduct undoutedly had a profound effect in causing very sorely tried troops to hold doggedly to their positions. This officer was badly wounded in the chest and he refused to go to the R.A.P. until given a direct order by me. Granted an Immediate M.C. The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details Reference: WO 373/3/542 Name Bradley, James Rank: Lieutenant Service No: 153935 Regiment: 2 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Theatre of Combat or Operation: Sicily Award: Military Cross Date of announcement in London Gazette: 21 October 1943
Casualty Details | CWGC Name and Rank: CAPTAIN JAMES BRADLEY Service Number: 153935 Regiment & Unit/Ship: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 2nd Bn. Date of Death: Died 18 January 1944 Age: 30 years old Buried or commemorated at MINTURNO WAR CEMETERY Grave Reference: II, J, 21. Location: Italy Awards: Military Cross Additional Info: Son of James Patrick and Annie Bradley, of Upper Tooting, London. Personal Inscription: INTO THE MOSAIC OF VICTORY WAS PLACED THIS PRECIOUS PIECE, MY SON