Arthur Radford (1896–1979)

Ordinary Seaman

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Bristol Z/4636 6th Battalion 6/1559

Photo courtesy Anne Waddington

Arthur Radford in 1926

Biography
Arthur and his brothers George and Fred were sons of the publican of the Canal Inn at Bullbridge. He worked as a wood machinist and enlisted in the RNVR in November 1915. Several weeks later, in January 1916, he was declared medically unfit for service and was discharged. Moving to Nether Heage from Bullbridge, he married Dorothy Hodgkinson in 1929.

Naval Record
His date of entry into the Navy was 12/11/15. He was born 04/03/96 with an address at Bull Bridge. He was a Congregationalist, employed as planer who cannot swim. The next of kin was his father John W. Radford. Arthur was 5ft 9¼in tall with brown hair and hazel eyes.
17/11/15 attached to 6th Battn 6/1559
25/01/16 Enrol. Form to C.P. rating being brought forward for survey on Jan 27th 1916;
17/01/16 Discharged from C.P. "Med. Unfit";
06/02/16 Dischd. List 179

Courtesy Anne Waddington

Radford family of Fritchley in 1926

The photograph features, from left to right:
Back Row (standing): Arthur Radford; Gordon Radford; George Radford; Allen Radford; Annie Radford; Olive Radford; Maud Radford; Minnie Saddington (née Radford); Florence Newbold (née Radford)
Front Row (seated): Fred Radford; John Widdowson Radford; Martha Annie Radford (née Smith)

The above photograph features three brothers who are listed on the Roll of Honour: George Radford (1892-1966); Arthur Radford (1896-1979); Fred Radford (1901-1974). Pictured on the photograph are John Widdowson Radford and his wife Martha Annie Radford (née Smith), with their ten children, outside the family home at The Barn, Fritchley. The photograph was taken in 1926 when their oldest child, Florence Newbold (née Radford), visited from Canada, having immigrated there with her husband in 1913.

Photo courtesy Shirley Saxton

Radford family of Fritchley 1951

This later photograph of the ten Radford siblings was taken in 1951, on another of Florence Newbold's visits from Canada.
The photograph features, from left to right:
Back Row: Fred Radford; Allen Radford; George Radford; Gordon Radford; Arthur Radford
Front Row: Olive Else; Minnie Saddington; Florence Newbold; Annie Radford; Maud Saxton

Arthur Radford's brothers George Radford and Fred Radford are also on the Roll of Honour.

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Fritchley

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
John W Radford Head

36 Sawyer Sheffield
Mary A Radford wife 35   Fritchley
Florence Radford daughter 10 School Fritchley
George Radford son 8 School Fritchley
Minnie Radford daughter 7 School Fritchley
Arthur Radford son 5   Fritchley
Annie Radford daughter 3   Fritchley
Gordon Radford son 2   Fritchley
Infant Radford son 3 days   Fritchley

RG13 piece 3231 folio 12 page 16

1911: Canal Inn, Bull Bridge

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
John Widdowson Radford Head 45 Sawyer Brampton
Martha Ann Radford wife 44   Crich
Allan Radford son 22 Labourer Crich
George Radford son 18 Timber clerk Crich
Minnie Radford daughter 17 At home Heage
Arthur Radford son 15 Wood machinist Crich
William Gordon Radford son 12 School Crich
Fred Radford son 10 School Crich
Olive Radford daughter 8 Schppl Crich
Edith Maud Radford daughter 6 School Crich
Samuel Smith boarder (wdwr) 76 OAP Crich

RG14PN20983 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED12 SN219

1939 Register: "The Hollies", Ridgeway Lane, Nether Heage
Arthur Radford b.4 March 1896; hotel cellarman
Dorothy A Radford b.11 March 1899
John W Radford b.28 July 1930; school
one closed record