Huthwaite WW One Memorial

Notts Free Press – 31st March 1916

HUTHWAITE SOLDIER’S DEATH
SHOT WHILST PARAPET BUILDING

Mrs. Bradder, 14, Blackwell Road, Huthwaite, has received news of the death of her husband, Private John Bradder, of the 11th. Battalion Sherwood Foresters. Pte. Bradder, who was 25 years of age, formerly worked at the New Hucknall Colliery. He enlisted in September, 1914, and was sent to France in August last. From the officer of his Company Mrs. Bradder has received the following letter : You will already have heard from the War Office of the death in action of your husband, but I thought as he was in my platoon I would write and tell you of the circumstances of his death. He was hit at 10:30 last night while building up a parapet on a communication trench. The bullet went in the abdomen. He said "Ah, that was a good shot," and jumped down. We did everything possible for him, but he died in five minutes. Before he died he asked for his personal belongings to be sent to you and you should receive them shortly. We buried him at 3:30 this afternoon in a little cemetery near ____. As many of his pals as could be spared came to the funeral. We are putting a little cross on his grave and as long as we are in this neighbourhood you can rest assured we will look after it. I will try and get a photo taken of the grave and send it to you. Your husband was my orderly, one of the best men I had, and a general favourite. I shall miss him very much indeed. If there is any further information I can give you, you have only to write and ask. Allow me to offer you my deepest sympathy in your great loss.

Mansfield Reporter – 14th April 1916

At the Parish Church on Sunday morning the Rev. FN Beswick (Vicar) conducted a memorial service to the late Private J Bradder of Huthwaite, who was recently killed in action. There was a good congregation, including relatives and friends of the deceased soldier. Special prayers and psalms were used, and the hymns were ‘Rock of Ages’, ;On the resurrection Morning; and ‘Jesu, lover of my Soul’. The reverend gentleman preached from the text, ‘The Lord God of your fathers’ and compared the lot of the Israelites and their suffering under Pharoah, and their ultimate deliverance with the crises of to-day. The roll of honour in the church was surrounded with a laurel wreath, and the Union Jack flew at half-mast on the tower during the service. Mr JP Morley was at the organ and played the Dead March from ‘Saul' to Private Bradder. There was a good congregation with friends and relatives of the deceased soldier. The Roll of Honour was surrounded by a laurel wreath and the Union Jack flown at half-mast.

Notts Free Press 15th March 1918

Bradder.- In Loving Memory of Private John Bradder, 11th. Sherwood Foresters, killed in Action, March 16th. 1916, aged 25 years. Could we have raised his dying head, And heard his last farewell; The blow would not have been so hard, To those who loved him well. Softly at night the stars are gleaming On a quiet grave, Where there sleepeth without dreaming, One we loved but could not save.- From his sorrowing Wife.