The AIF Project

Ernest Victor BRADWELL

Regimental number14831
Place of birthSheffield England
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationTelegraph operator
AddressPost Office Goomalling, Goomalling, Western Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation18
Next of kinFather, Thomas Bradwell, Post Office Goomalling, Goomalling, Western Australia
Enlistment date28 March 1916
Rank on enlistmentSapper
Unit nameDivisional Signal Company 4, Reinforcement 4
AWM Embarkation Roll number22/14/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A28 Miltiades on 9 August 1916
Rank from Nominal RollSapper
Unit from Nominal Roll5th Divisional Signal Company
FateReturned to Australia 23 July 1919
Medals

Military Medal

'For courage and devotion to duty. On 29th September 1918 on the BELLICOURT-BELLENGLISE front this man was engaged in the maintenance of signal communication between the Divisional forward station 500 yards North East of TEMPLEUX-le-GUERARD to 15th Australian Infantry Brigade Headquarters just west of BELLICOURT. Almost as fast as the cables were repaired they were again damaged by enemy shell fire, and this lineman was continuously engaged in maintaining them from 12 noon on 29th September until 4 p.m. on 30th September. During this period he was without sleep and had only one meal. He performed his duties under exceptionally heavy enemy artillery fire, which at one time was so severe as to necessitate closing the road until 8 p.m. on the 29th September. It was due to his devotion to duty, perseverance, and total disregard for personal safety that these cables were kept in working order during important operations.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 109
Date: 15 September 1919

Other details

War service: Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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