War Grave - Honduras - A SUCCESS AND MOVING TALE

Before, anyone ask's NO this is not a joke. There is only one CWGC grave in the whole of Honduras, and yes he is one of mine. Whilst I am not expecting a rush of offers, the story behind this fella is actually quite sad.

He was born to a single mother and was given up for adoption. Whilst there is no evidence to say that he wasnt treated well by his adopted parents, he joined up at a very early age, and what looks like one of his madien voyages took ill, resulting in him dying whilst at sea.

The Padstow bay was on route to S.America / Caribbean, and Stoker Bradley was buried in Tela New Cemetery on arrival.

Alone for most of his life, he is also alone in death

Name: BRADLEY, DENNIS
Initials: D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Stoker 2nd Class
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. Padstow Bay
Age: 18
Date of Death: 09/09/1946
Service No: D/KX 785851
Additional information: Adopted son of the late Frank Pilling and Alice Pilling, of Widnes, Cheshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Cemetery: TELA NEW CEMETERY

 

I think someone lives there who's a member or at the very least next door

 

Definately next door, Andy: Guatemala, if it's the person I'm thinking of.

H

 

its a long trip for a single headstone

 

You never know, might be worth a punt!

 

Thats the man Capitano....Phil if you say please

 

ive just looked at the price of a return flight £1138.00

Think it will be more than a please. think ill try my normal avenue to see if i can get it to work.

Thanks anyway guys

 

Phil, I think his name is Warlord

 

Well, ive managed to idenity the location of the cemetery. (Top left at the end of the old runway), and have written to a local childrens charity to see if they can assist in return for a donation

Will see what happens

tela honduras - Google Maps

 

Well it takes a lot to excite me, and with a nickname of P45, I expect a lot of people that work for me, but this so far has cost me nothing, other than hours finding a like minded person.

Stoker 2nd Class Denis Bradley, one of my Casualties from Widnes, the sole commonwealth grave in the Tela New Cemetery in Honduras, a country currently rocked by political termoil.
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=23960&d=1263513027


Now getting a photo is a massive achievement, but.......

getting the grave cleared is almost like winning the lottery

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=23963&d=1263514113

and finally, the flower that has probably never been laid before

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=23964&d=1263514113

The questnow continues, to ensure that I Now find someone who will maintain the grave

 

Thats great news Phil, a real achievement.

Thats such a sad story.... only 18 and so far away from home. Theres something lonely about him being the only British war grave in the country too.

It doesn't look in too bad a condition, all things considered.

 

Even though I don´t think I can be of much help, since Tela's about 600Km from home, across the border, I think I have an idea, but I need your help, Phil:

What is it exactly that you need with the grave? Some more pics? Someone that will take care of it? Or something else?

It´s around 2300h down here, so I'll be hitting the sack very soon, but I'll read your reply as soon as I get to my office tomorrow morning.

 

Morning warlord, I managed to find someone who was going backpacking through central America to detour to Tela to get me the photo's shown and more. They described it as moving and scarey (the whole cemetery is rundown) but are going back today to clear it properly with a machete, before moving on.

In an ideal world now need someone to keep it cleared so await your thoughts with interest.

Phil

 

Phil

Great work
well done
Dennis Bradley is not forgotten

 

Phil,

Excellent result with getting the photo of the headstone, but clean-up operation to boot, that is a wonderful achievement and something that you can be proud of.

A lovely post to read.

Regards
Tom

 

Nice work, but shouldn't the CWGC not place a new stone!, it doesn't matter which country, they should do so

 

Fantastic result, Phil.

Good to see our local lads remembered. I note that Dennis died on 9th September, the same date as my g-uncle James Nulty died at Ginchy in 1916.

Philip - CWGC won't replace that stone. The commemoration is a lot better than some I've seen here in the UK. Their inspection (at least once every three years) will note it's condition and at best, they may arrange for it to be cleaned.

 

Well done Phil.

 

poor job, I notcied 2 teams last year in Arnhem and Wageningen who were placing and cleaning the the stones there