Encyclopedia Titanica

Thomas Henry Bradley

Mr Thomas Henry Bradley was born at 9 Fox Street in Bethnal Green, London, England 1 on 26 April 1883 and was later baptised on 6 May in St Andrew's Church.

He was the son of Richard Bradley (b. 1846), a leather worker, and Julia Emma Allen (b. 1848), Londoners who had married in 1867. 

He had nine known siblings: Julia Ann (b. 1867), Richard William (b. 1869), John Thomas (b. 1871), Elizabeth (b. 1872, later Mrs Edmund Thomas Swan), Alice Louisa (1875-1939, later Mrs Philip Rose), Emily Maria (b. 1876), Esther Sarah (1878-1952, later Mrs Frederick Celisse), Sarah Ann (1881-1949, later Mrs Thomas Page) and Charles (b. 1888).

Bradley first appears on the 1891 census living with his family at 9 Auckland Road, Bethnal Green but after this the family falls off the radar but his father is known to have died sometime in 1900 in the Whitechapel area. 

Bradley joined the Royal Navy on 26 April 1901, his 18th birthday, and gave his previous occupation as that of a blacksmith. Physically he stood at 5' 4" and he had dark brown hair with grey-hazel eyes and a fresh complexion, along with numerous tattoos. His first ship was the Northampton on which he served for six months and he would also see service aboard Pembroke and Jupiter before rising to become an ordinary seaman. By March 1902, as an ordinary seaman he worked aboard Pembroke I, Russell and Tyne before winding up his naval career aboard Leander on 7 June 1904. His conduct had never been perfect and he was shown to have spent several spells in the cells for misconduct and also spent time in hard labour for desertion and disobedience. Following this it may be assumed that he went straight into the merchant service but this cannot be certain.

When he signed on to the Titanic on 6 April 1912 Bradley stated that he had been born in Newcastle. He gave his local address as 25 Threefield Lane in Southampton and his previous ship as the Oceanic; as an able seaman he could expect monthly wages of £5.

Thomas Bradley died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified. His mother Julia later benefitted from the Titanic Relief Fund.

Notes

  1. In the crew agreements he gave his birthplace as Newcastle; modern-day family have affirmed his true identity and have confirmed that he was born in London.

References and Sources

United States Senate, Washington 1912. n° 806, Crew List
Hermann Söldner (ed.) (2000) RMS Titanic: Passenger and Crew List 10 April 1912-15 April 1912. ä wie Ärger Verlag.

Credits

Gavin Bell, UK
Bill Wormstedt

Comment and discuss

  1. Harry Page

    Harry Page

    I am the great nephew of Thomas Bradley. His niece, Alexandra Page, is still alive and knows something of this. His correct name is Thomas Henry Bradley, dob: 26/04/1883 in Bethnal Green, London. More detail if anyone is interested.
Open Thread Leave a Reply

Titanic Crew Summary

Name: Mr Thomas Henry Bradley
Age: 28 years 11 months and 19 days (Male)
Nationality: English
Marital Status: Single
Last Residence: at 25 Threefield Lane Southampton, Hampshire, England
Occupation: Able Seaman
Last Ship: Oceanic
Embarked: Southampton on Saturday 6th April 1912
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body Not Identified

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