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Auction: 3016 - Orders, Medals, Decorations & Militaria
Lot: 57

A Most Interesting [C.B.E.], O.B.E. Group of Seven to Group Captain C.R.S. 'Braddles' Bradley, Royal Air Force, Late South African Forces, Inniskilling Fusiliers, Indian Cavalry and Royal Flying Corps, Commanded No. 31 Squadron on the North West Frontier 1916-17.
Order of the British Empire, 1st type Officer's breast Badge, Military Division; Queen's South Africa, three clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, last two clasps contemporary copies, one sprung from carriage (3655 Pte. Cape M. R.); 1914 Star and Bar (Capt: 4/Cavalry); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaves (Lt. Col. R.F.C.); Army General Service, G.V.R., one clasp, Kurdistan (W/C. R.A.F.); Delhi Durbar 1911, good very fine or better, with related group of seven miniature awards (14)


[C.B.E.] London Gazette 13.6.1946 Group Captain, Royal Air Force

O.B.E. London Gazette 3.6.1919 Wing Commander, Royal Air Force

Group Captain Charles Raymond Strathearn Bradley, C.B.E., born 1881, entered the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers as a 2nd Lieutenant from the ranks of the Cape Mounted Rifles, April 1902; advanced to Lieutenant 1905, he transferred to the 4th Cavalry, Indian Army in that year; a Captain by 1914, he arrived in France 29/30 September and was soon under fire; he was granted a Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 23.6.1915 and was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps in August of that year. Promoted Major, Bradley was appointed to command 31 Squadron (March 1916-May 1917), on the North West Frontier, a popular commanding officer who was known to his men as 'Beautiful Braddles' (Mentioned in Despatches London Gazette 1.1. and 19.10.1916). He had risen to Group Captain by 1925 and was appointed Air Attaché in various locations and retired in 1932; recalled in 1939, he served throughout the war and finally retired in 1946.

Provenence Charles Lovell Collection 1978


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