memorial plaque

Clayton Adam Bradley was born in North Gower, Ontario, on 29 March 1889. He was the youngest of the eight children of Adam Bradley, a farmer, and Ann Bradley.

Bradley was a student when he enlisted in the 38th Battalion in Guelph, Ontario, on 16 March 1915. He noted on his attestation paper that he had served in the Canadian Officer Training Corps. After initial training in Canada, Bradley sailed with his unit to England aboard SS Missanabie on 29 May 1915. In England, he was transferred to the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). He joined the unit in France in July 1915.

Three months later, Bradley was made a lance corporal. In early March 1916, he was placed in the Isolation Hospital at Bailleul, France. The reason for his admission to the hospital was not recorded in his service file, but it was likely feared that he had contracted a serious infectious disease. This fear seems to have been unfounded. After four days in the hospital, Bradley returned to the PPCLI and resumed his duties.

Bradley was killed on 2 June 1916 at Sanctuary Wood during the Battle of Mount Sorrel. According to the Circumstances of Casualty report, “this non-commissioned officer was accompanying a wounded officer back to a dressing station, when he was hit by either a machine gun or rifle bullet and instantly killed.”

Clayton Adam Bradley is buried in Sanctuary Wood Cemetery, in Belgium.