Person

Leonard was the fifth of the eight children of Thomas and Jane Bradley who lived in Oakenshaw, where Thomas worked in the pit. By the time Leonard joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1917, the family was living in Ferryhill and Leonard was working as a joiner.

He joined the RNAS in September 1917 and did his initial training at Crystal Palace. He subsequently served at HMS Daedalus, an RNAS seaplane base at Lee-on-Solent. He was an Aircraftman Second Grade, by late September, and an Aircraftman First Grade by March 1918. He then served at Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey and was there when the RNAS and Royal Flying Corps amalgamated to form the RAF.

He was demobilised and transferred to the RAF Reserve on 24/2/1919. His conduct was noted as “Very good”. He seems to have applied for a War Pension on the grounds of “Melancholia” . This was refused as the condition was not deemed to be caused by his war service.

Civil Parish: Ferryhill

Birth date: 17-Sep-1897

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 6 Wesley Street, Coundon (1901 census)
72 Faraday Street, Dean Bank, Ferryhill (1911 census)

Employment: Dean and Chapter Colliery, Ferryhill?

Family: Father: Thomas Bradley b. c 1854 Portobello Staffs
Mother: Jane Bradley b. c1864 Frizzington Cumberland
Siblings: Edwin Bradley, William Bradley, Sarah Bradley, George Bradley, John Bradley, Margaret Jane Bradley.
William T Newby – stepbrother?

Military service:

Joined Royal Naval Air Service, 8/9/17
Aircraftman Second Class, 18/9/17
Aircraftman First Class, 8/3/18
Transferred RAF, 1/4/18
Demobilised to RAF Reserve, 24/2/19

Gender: Male

Contributed by Mike, Darlington