Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Milford Roy Bradford was one of the younger children born to Joel and Elizabeth Jane Zelnah (Dell) Uzzell, at Redfern on the 20th October 1910 (other records suggest 1909). His parents had married in 1895 and had seventeen children. The large family included surviving siblings Elijah George, Arthur, Elizabeth Myrtle, Albert Harold, John Joel, Alfred Edward, Una Jean, Hazel May and Frederick Walter.
Life was a struggle for the family. Joel worked as a labourer in the quarry at Brown Hill Creek, blasting for stone. In an incident that later went to court, a grass fire resulted when the fuse was fired, burning wood, grass and fences. However, negligence was not proved so Joel was acquitted.
Prior to Milford’s arrival, they had faced the death of an eight-month-old little girls, Una Jean Violetta who died in December 1907. Her death was mourned in a poignant announcement in the Express and Telegraph. ‘UZZELL.—On the 10th December, at Redfern, Una Jean Violetta, dearly beloved infant daughter of J. and E. Uzzell, aged 8½ months. Once we had a favorite blossom, Full of sweetness, full of love; And the angels came and took her; To the heavenly home above.’
Milford was thirteen when his oldest brother, 19-year-old Elijah, a milkman, enlisted to serve in WWI as 4896 in the 4th Machine Gun Battalion. He had his parent’s written permission. Elijah served in France and returned from service on the 6th June 1919 and worked as a Porter and assistant shunter at the Mile End Railway Station. Shortly after his return, he married Doris (Doll) Gully on 28th February ’20. Tragically, 24-year-old Elijah was killed on the 14th September that year. He had only assisted with shunting in daylight for the previous fortnight but had not worked at night. He slipped between two trucks when trying to couple them and was crushed by the buffers and was found lying across the rails, unconscious with a fracture at the base of his skull and a broken jaw. Despite being taken to hospital, Elijah died of his injuries. An inquest followed with the Goods Superintendent reporting that “The work is hard enough for them without having to risk their lives and those of the assistants because the latter do not know the right signals to exhibit with the hand signal lamp at night. If the poor young man had been given a fair deal, he would have been alive today.”
Elijah was buried with his baby sister, Una Jean in the Mitcham General Cemetery. Doris, applied for, and was granted Worker’s Compensation for herself and their unborn child. To add to the heartbreak, their daughter, Gladys Una was born on the 2nd December the same year.
By the time Milford was eighteen, the family had irrevocably been torn apart as a result of Joel’s behaviour towards his wife and children. The newspapers of the time covered the case which went before the Adelaide Police Courts, with a distressing litany of behaviour. Elizabeth charged Joel Uzzell, working then as a plumber, with persistent cruelty, neglecting to provide reasonable maintenance for herself and the children, and with having at times by reason of his drinking habits been dangerous to others. Inevitably, Elizabeth asked for and was granted a separation. Her case was strongly supported by the constabulary, who claimed having known Joel for six years “and had never seen him sober and was invariably in a filthy condition. He swore and used indecent language in front of the children, had threatened to poison all the children and accused his wife of adultery. On one occasion defendant attempted to stab her.”
The court found the defendant guilty of wilful neglect and drunkenness making an order relieving Elizabeth from the obligation of cohabitation, and she was given the legal custody of the youngest child. Joel was ordered to pay £2 a week in respect to the future maintenance of Elizabeht and their youngest child. He was also ordered to pay £4 4/ costs.
The following year, Joel was again before the courts several times for being in arrears of up to £68 for the maintenance of Elizabeth and their child. It was a challenging time for all. With the situation continuing to deteriorate, by April ’38 Elizabeth was granted a divorce on the grounds of Joel’s wilful failure to pay maintenance.
However, there were lighter moments for Hazel and Milford who were able to enjoy dancing organised by the 18/23rd Light Horse Regiment, at Keswick. Milford was also a reliable football player and enjoyed being involved in sports offered in his local community. By this stage, Milford was employed as an iron worker and was serving in that Regiment. These were mixed with lucky escapes, by Milford’s brother, John Joe, riding his pushbike when he was struck by a motor car, but fortunately avoided serious injury.
Prior to the outbreak of WWII, Milford had married Thelma Ann (Annie) Goodman in ‘28 with the two living at Stepney. However, with the outbreak of WWII Milford followed the example of his oldest brother Elijah in volunteering to serve his country. 23-year-old Frederick enlisted in January ’39 as S14721 with the RAE. Milford was accepted on the 26th June 1940 and allocated the number SX7478 in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. He spent his early army days in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before heading to Woodside for preliminary training. Following pre-embarkation leave the 2/48th Battalion then embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940. Milford then completed a few months training in Cyrenaica facing dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment when in Tobruk.
His battalion had barely arrived in the Middle East when in May ‘41 Milford sustained a gunshot wound to his right foot, resulting in him being evacuated to hospital for over a month, then returned to a training camp at Amirinya. Milford’s injuries occurred in the fierce fighting for Hill 209 which also claimed the lives of seven other fellow soldiers.
John Glenn in his book, ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ described conditions that day at Dimra: “At 3:50am on 1st May the men of the 2/48th stood-to to await the outcome of the battle which had raged all through the night. In thick mist, darkness, and bitter cold they snatched a quick breakfast of bully beef and hard biscuits.” In an attempt to take Hill 209 in the heavy dust storm marked by overhead enemy aircraft targeting their carrying vehicles, ‘D Company moved out steadily with two platoons forward- 18 Platoon under Lieutenant Larkins on the right and 17 Platoon with Sergeant Tonkin in command on the left.’ ‘The company then moved well forward under control, and came under small arms fire, but continued until they came under very heavy machine-gun fire from the direction of the Water Point and Post S4.’ The remainder of that day was chaotic, information scant, the men weary and under heavy fire and a raging sandstorm.’
The 22nd May ’41 edition of the Chronicle listed those from the 2/48th Battalion who were wounded with Milford. They included Died of Wounds.— Pte. Robert T. Christie, SX8273, Angaston (previously reported wounded in action). Wounded in Action.— Pte. Lancelot W. Braidwood. SX7652, Adelaide; Pte. Douglas D. Cameron, SX8847, Curramulka; A/Cpl. Wallace M. Clegg, SX6947, Joslin; Pte. John W. P. Digan, SX9092, Adelaide; Pte. Harold E. Harris, SX7454, North Croydon; Pte. Blake H. Mclnnes, SX7877, Lancaster; Pte. Alfred W. Morris, SX7798 Norwood; and Pte. Milford R. Uzzell, SX7478, Stepney.
In February the following year, Milford was confined to barracks for a day for failing to attend a parade. Later in September, he received an Acting Group II qualification as a cook, but relinquished this the following month. The following year he was finally heading home to Australia via Melbourne in February ‘43 and leave back home.
Soon after, in May that year, his brother, Albert was fortunate to survive his clothing being entangles in a drill at the Islington Works, dragging him onto the machine. He was admitted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with concussion and abrasions and was fortunate to survive. Again, it was an anxious time for the family.
Training in Queensland followed with Milford following up on his Middle East training, gaining his qualifications as a Group II Cook. He was soon heading to New Guinea to face a very different enemy in the tropical conditions. He left Cairns and arrived in Milne Bay early in August ’43. Unfortunately, he contracted malaria, later followed by an extremely high temperature called Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (PUO), both of which required hospital treatment. He was finally able to return to Australia via Brisbane, in February ’44.
Unfortunately, the living conditions in New Guinea contributed to Milford being treated for scabies, then an inflammation of his middle-left ear and the formation of scar tissue in his shoulder. Not unexpectedly he was also diagnosed with a mild anxiety state from his years of involvement in the war. By February ’45 Milton requested to be relieved of his duties as a Cook, prior to being finally discharged in March ’45. Post war, Milford and Thelma enjoyed time with their growing family of six children.
Ten years after his discharge, Milford’s 78-year-old mother, Elizabeth the ‘rock’ of the family, died on the 3rd of March ‘55. She was buried in Centennial Park Cemetery. 86-year-old Joel, who survived her for a further seven months is buried with her.
Milford died on the 22nd July ’86 and Thelma just two months later on the 25th September. They are both buried in the Enfield Memorial Park Cemetery, General Section.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.