University of Birmingham Student (Alumni) Papers: Papers of Joseph Arthur Bradley

Copy of edited account of (Joseph) Arthur Bradley's service in the merchant navy during the First World War, taken from diaries he kept of his voyages and compiled by his son, John Bradley, with illustrations consisting of copies of photographs and of Bradley's discharge certificates and Merchant Marine War Medal; photocopy of article about Bradley's life as a wireless officer, written by his son and published in 'The Blackcountryman', 1998-1999

Joseph Arthur Bradley was born on 21 March 1899 and attended King Edward VI Grammar School in Stourbridge. He was a pupil teacher at Bent Street School in Brierley Hill before he went to the University of Birmingham in October 1916 to study physics. He was conscripted for military service when he reached the age of eighteen in March 1917 and he registered for a three month wireless telegraphy course at the Marconi Wireless Telegraphy School in London. He served as a wireless operator on a number of ships crossing the Atlantic, as well as on voyages to India , Burma, and the Persian Gulf, Royal Navy Hospital Transport 1917-1919. He returned to university in 1919 to resume his studies, graduating in 1922. He then studied for a Diploma of Education which he obtained in 1923. His first teaching post was as Assistant Master at Colley Lane School, Cradley, followed by a post at Kingswinford Pensnett (Bromley) Mixed School. He moved to teach at Bent Street Senior Boys in 1927. He became science master at the new Brierley Hill Intermediate School in 1929, and returned to Bent Street Senior Boys as Headmaster in 1933. In 1939 he moved to Audnam Secondary Modern School. He retired in 1960.

Arthur Bradley married Mag Kirkham in 1926, and they lived at 49 John Street, Brierley Hill before moving to Ham Lane, Stourbridge. They had two children, John, born in 1930, and Margaret, born in 1932. Arthur Bradley and his wife died in 1985

Open, access to all registered researchers

Presented by John K. Bradley, November 2014

Please see https://calmview.bham.ac.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=XUSS107&pos=1 for more information

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