RICHARD ALBERT BRADSHAW

Warrant Officer II Richard Albert Bradshaw, service number P/27990, was born on October 14, 1916 in Ottawa, Ontario to Richard Alfred and Amy Elizabeth Bradshaw. He lived at 155 Nepean Street in Ottawa and attended Lisgar C,I. After graduation, Richard, like all other young Canadians, was eager to serve his country, especially as the clouds of war began to gather in Europe.

In 1939, the world watched tensions rise as Nazi Germany invaded Poland, marking the beginning of World War II. Like many young Canadians of his generation, Richard probably felt a strong sense of responsibility to defend democracy and protect the British Empire, with which Canada was closely connected. News of the German army's aggression and threats to world peace have had a profound impact on him, and posters were encouraging young people to join the army to fight against tyranny. As Canada officially entered the war in September 1939, a sense of urgency swept the country. Richard decided to enlist in the Canadian Active Service Force Army(CASFA) on September 1, 1939, out of patriotism and a desire to fight alongside the Allies.

The CASFA was responsible for ensuring the logistical support required for military operations, including the transportation of vital supplies, ammunition and personnel. Richard’s mechanical skills and interest in logistics made him an ideal candidate for the Corps, and he was soon promoted to Warrant Officer Class II.

As the war escalated, Richard was sent overseas to assist Canada’s war effort in Europe. By early 1941, the Blitz – Germany’s sustained bombing campaign against Britain – was in full swing, with London suffering from intense air raids night after night. On March 8th, 1941, Richard was attending a party at the Café de Paris, a famous London nightclub, when a German bomb hit the dance floor, killing four Canadian soldiers, including Richard. At that time, he was only 24 years old. He was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, which is the largest commonwealth war cemetery in the United Kingdom.The Café de Paris bombing was a stark reminder of the indiscriminate nature of war, and that even a brief respite could turn tragic. Richard’s death was not only a loss for his family, but also for Canada, which had sent its own sons and daughters overseas to protect the freedoms they have always cherished.

His service and sacrifice reflected the courage of an entire generation of young people who faced danger and sacrificed their lives to build a brighter future for the world.

Primary Source Documents : https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2761956

The biographies appearing on this website have been written by students, roughly the same age as the soldiers they are studying, using primary source evidence from Library and Archives Canada, in addition to primary source documents from The Virtual War Memorial on veterans.ca. We welcome any corrections or additions you may have to these biographies.

'If we do preserve it, we honour them, and when we in our turn pass on, we will know that behind us lives a generation of free men and of free women to be the keepers of this great heritage of ours - Canada.'

- Ian A. McPhee, former student at GCI, 1937.

Lisgar Collegiate Institute
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada

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