Brice George BRADNEY
Brice George Bradney (1892-1947) was born near Binalong, 37km north west of Yass in NSW in 1892; probably at Tangmangaroo on the Boorowa River. He was the youngest of five to George Harrison BRADNEY and Clara MANSFIELD. Brice married Inez Irene LAKE from Old Junee at Five Dock in Sydney on 2 June 1915. Brice enlisted just before his 24th birthday when they were living at Thorney, Old Junee, located 7km north west of Junee and 33km north of Wagga Wagga.
By mid June 1916 Brice was in France serving with the 13th Battalion and they would partake in major actions at Pozieres in August and Bullecourt the following April. He was promoted to Corporal in April 1917 and the Battalion moved to Belgium to prepare for the Battle of Polygon Wood towards Zonnebeke village. Brice was wounded in action on 25 September 1917 with a gun shot, or grenade, wound to the left hand and promoted to Sergeant the following month. He was awarded the Military Medal on 14 October 1917.
Brice was described as a good leader with a mediocre education, unpolished but with a sound worth and a quick thinker. After a short stay in hospital in April, he rejoined the 13th Battalion as a 2nd Lieutenant two months before the war was to end. He embarked for return to Australia in November 1919 and arrived a month later. He was discharged on the 20 February 1920 as a Lieutenant. On return from the War, Brice joined his brother, Victor Harrison BRADNEY in a venture to make ‘Sterling’ axe handles at Tomerong on the Yerunda Road Axe Handle Factory. Also involved, amongst others, were Joseph Herbert BARHAM, Eric Arthur HAWKEN and Leslie Charles SPRING. The mill was visited by the Prince of Wales in June 1920. Brice often featured in the Tomerong Cricket team in the 1920-21 season. Brice and Inez’s house and furniture were advertised for auction in April 1922 and Mrs Bradney was said to be ‘leaving the district at once.’ The mill was sold to Victor BRATZ about 1923.
Brice and Inez moved to Queensland and then to Burrell Creek near Gloucester. Brice George Bradney died on 29 October 1947 aged 55 at Wingham Hospital. He and Inez had lived at Krambach for over 20 years and they owned a 340 acre farm there in 1940. Brice had been engaged in dairying and was President of the Krambach Progress Association, Secretary of the Wallambra branch of the Returned Soldiers, Sailors and Airman’s League and was active in the local Methodist Church. He is buried at Krambach Cemetery and his service is commemorated on the Binalong Honour Roll and the Wallendbeen Memorial Obelisk. [1]
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Notes and References
- ↑ Tomerong Anzacs "I've had my fling" : the story of the men who enlisted for World War I associated with the NSW South Coast village of Tomerong (v4.5). R Blair, Tomerong, N.S.W. Tomerong Genealogy Database R1520.
Images
- Headstone R1520.
- Axe Handle Mill TP4217.
- Bradney Reunion TP4394.
- Tomerong Anzacs TP4828.
- Honor Rolls TP5715/5182.
- 13th Battalion TP5715/5181.
- Prince of Wales Visit TP3697-70.
- Memorandum of Agreement TP4482.
- School Certificate TP5181.
- Origin Map TP6266.
Links
- Tomerong Local History Web Page- tomeronghistory.com
- Tomerong Past Facebook Album- Tomerong Past Facebook This site may provide more information relative to this family. Check the 'Families' and 'Monuments' albums and those institutions that the family contributed to e.g. 'School', 'Sawmills', 'Anzacs' etcetera.
- Tomerong Anzacs- Tomerong Anzacs
- Brice George Bradney Wikitree - Brice George Bradney Wikitree
