Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Lindsay’s family had a strong connection to WWI with his father and uncles all serving. The Bradford family was well known in Murray Bridge with Lindsay’s grandfather Francis John being active as a Justice of the Peace, on the District Council of Mobilong and heavily involved in the recruiting committee, encouraging young men to fight in WWI, including three of his own sons. The youngest, 22-year-old Clement Everly was awarded the Military Medal and Bar but contracted pneumonic influenza and died of heart failure on active service. A second son, Cpl. John William Archie Bradford, was an original member of the 10th Battalion, injured on Gallipoli, and subsequently being invalided back to Australia. Lindsay’s father, Cpl. Sydney Charles Bradford, enlisted in August ‘14served as 727 and 1204, becoming a Lance Corporal initially in the 12th Battalion then the 10th Infantry battalion. He also was awarded a Military Medal for bravery in the field at the Battles of Pozieres and Messines in France, serving at the front for four years and wounded three times.
The oldest of the brothers, 33-year-old Lindsay (Frank Lindsay) died of a heart attack while attending a performance at the King's Theatre in Adelaide in August 1915. With his birth six years later to Sydney and Beryl Margaret, on the 2nd January, ’22, Lindsay carried on the name of this much-loved deceased uncle.
Lindsay had three sisters, Beryl Patricia and Judy and three brothers, Sidney Maxwell (Max),Robert Everley (Bob) and Ronald Frank.
At a time when Australia was still heavily reliant on the success of the wool trade, the McLaughlan family began their Merino wool Station near Yunta, 100 miles north of Burra, in regional South Australia in the 1880’s. Initially known as Paratoo it later became Jumbuck Pastoral and one of the largest Stations. Apart from sheep, Paratoo was also known for its quality horse breeding, including winners of the Melbourne Cup. Lindsay gained employment initially at the Paratoo and later at Peweetia working as a station hand.
However, with the outbreak of WWII, 19-year-old Lindsay travelled to Adelaide to enlist of the 13th December ’41. His three brothers also enlisted in the ensuing years, 19-year-old Max in February ’43 with the2/6th Battalion, 18-year-old Ronald in September ’44, with the 2/7th and finally Robert in December ’44 becoming Corporal SX33935. All survived the war.
Lindsay was allocated the number SX15415 and almost immediately placed in the 2/48th Battalion as part of the reinforcements. Early April the following year he was promoted to Acting Corporal undertaking numerous courses, including for leadership and Motors. With other new reinforcement soldiers, he then travelled to Melbourne, leaving at the end of August ’42 for the Middle East. Following four months with the seasoned soldiers of the then highly regarded 2/48th Battalion, the men returned to Australia via Melbourne at the start of February, ’43.
Training in Queensland followed as the battalion prepared for service in the humidity and jungle conditions of New Guinea. Having reverted to the rank of Private, Lindsay left Cairns, arriving in Milne Bay in August ’43. Within four months, he had succumbed to a very high temperature (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin) and almost inevitably, malaria. By January the following year ’44 Lindsay was appointed Lance Corporal, despite a return of malaria. It was a welcome change to return from Port Moresby to Brisbane for leave in March that year with extra training to follow. Lindsay had not shaken his malaria and developed an upper respiratory tract infection, neither of which affected him being further promoted to the rank of Corporal
He soon returned to Morotai and thence to Tarakan. Having been in that war zone for just ten days, on the 22nd May ’45 Lindsay was wounded in action with gunshot wounds to both his right foot and forearm. These were sustained during a grenade attack. In his book Tobruk to Tarakan, John Glenn described that attack on Knoll 2 which was being blasted with napalm, firebombs and high explosives by our planes. “Under cover of this fire 16 Platoon of D Company traversed some extremely rugged country where a razor-back ridge made it impossible to deploy more than two men forward in the approach to Track Junction Knoll. Both this platoon and 17 Platoon, who had edged themselves forward, came under fire from the objective, and a section leader was killed.’ Highly decorated, Sgt Diver Derrick was killed just two days afterwards.
The last May ’45 issue of The Advertiser carried the details that ‘Staff Sgl. and Mrs S. Bradford, of Kensington road. Rose Park have been officially notified that their son. Cpl Lindsay Bradford has been wounded in action while serving with the 9th Division on Tarakan. Cpl. Bradford previously served in the Middle East and New Guinea. He is the eldest of the four sons of Staff Sgt and Mrs. Bradford now in the AIF. Before enlisting Cpl Bradford was employed at Paratoo and Peweetia stations.
Lindsay travelled back to Morotai and then to Australia arriving mid-June ’45. Soon after, the July ’45 issue of the Chronicle included a list of those from the 2/48th who were affected. Killed In Action. — SX18O85 L-Cpl. Linus. J. Corcoran, Millicent. Died Of Wounds.— SX7964 Lt. Thomas C. Derrick. VC. DCM, Berri; SX17803 Pte. William (Jack) Giddings, Naracoorte. Dangerously Wounded. — SX30687 Pte Steven R. Buck Seaton Park; SX15368 L-Cpl. John K. Walsh, Spalding. Wounded In Action.— SX7670 Pte. Colin R. Aplin, Mornington SX15415 Cpl. Lindsay G. Bradford, Rose Park; SX19253 Pte. Geoffrey F. Chapman, Unley Park; SX7642 Pte. Donald J. Kerin, Burra; SX15505 L-Cpl. William B. Tremain, Payneham and SX7691 Cpl. Keith Turnbull, Bowden.
Initially treated by the air ambulance on the way to the Brisbane Military Hospital, by September Lindsay was back in South Australia at the Daws Road Military Hospital. John Walsh, injured with Lindsay, was interviewed on his return home to South Australia at the Adeliade Railway Station on the 21st June ’45.
‘Corporal J. K. Walsh, of Spalding, injured with Lindsay, described how he received a bullet wound in an arm and shrapnel wounds in the back, a leg, and chest. He received the bullet wound from a sniper during a counter-attack. While crawling back with a party of other Australians. they were attacked by a Jap carrying a 75-mm. shell. The Jap rushed into the group of Australians and threw the shell at them, killing three and wounding five. He escaped himself. Corporal Walsh said today it was the only instance he had heard of a Jap successfully attacking in this way. Many had attempted it, but most of them had been killed. The fact that the attack took place at night had helped it to be successful.’
Lindsay was next transferred to Kapara at Glenelg which provided the facility for men to recover and receive specialised care. There the detail of his injuries were more closely assessed, revealing muscle damage had occurred in his forearm, influencing the movement of his elbow. This precluded him from returning to the armed forces and he was finally discharged on the 13th December ’45.
A young nurse, Nellie Rita Burnside who had successfully gained a credit in her midwifery exams, was soon pivotal in Lindsay’s life. By February ’51 she and Lindsay announced their engagement. ‘BURNSIDE— BRADFORD.— The engagement is announced of Nell, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Burnside, of Dulwich, to Lindsay, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Bradford, of Rose Park.’ The two quietly married in May sharing the news in the Advertiser. ‘BRADFORD— BURNSIDE.— The marriage of Nell, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Burnside, of Dulwich, to Lindsay, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Bradford, of Richmond, will be solemnised at Gartrell Memorial Church, at 3.30, Saturday, May 19. No reception.’ Just prior to Christmas in December ’52 they announced the arrival of their first son, David Andrew. Their family was compete with the arrival of a daughter, Rosslyn. They would later become proud grandparents to Lisa and James. Nathan, Ben, Sam, Lachlan and Declan.
Nellie pre-deceased Lindsay dying aged 89 on the 2nd October 2005. Aged 98, Lindsay died on the 24th November 2020. He now rests alongside Nellie at Centennial Park Cemetery West, Rose Bed W47 072. (Nellie is in position 71.)
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.