Edward Eden Bradford

Admiral SIR Edward Eden Bradford, G.B.E., K.C.B., C.V.O., Royal Navy (10 December, 1858 – 26 November, 1935) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Australia Station

On 20 June, 1878, Bradford was appointed Acting Sub-Lieutenant. On 23 January, 1880 he received a Second Class Gunnery Certificate. On 7 February he was appointed to the Wolverine, additional, for the Sandfly. Bradford was appointed to H.M. Schooner Sandfly on 24 January, 1880 on the Australia Station. He and the commander, Lieutenant James St. Clair Bower, were the only two officers on the ship. In October Lieutenant Maxwell and a surveying party of six men went to Mandilana Island in the Solomon Islands, leaving Sandfly under Bradford's charge anchored off the far end of nearby Florida Island. Chief Kalikaona of Florida Island had stated that he would not eat until skulls had been presented him in the traditional manner. Two of his chiefs, Utomati and Voreea, obliged and sent a boy to investigate Bower's party and ascertain whether they were armed and vigilant. The boy visited the party, sold them fruit and reported that the British sailors had left their rifles and ammunition in their boat and were busy surveying.

Bower had searched the immediate vicinity upon landing at Mandilana Island, and was under the impression that the area was clear. He then allowed five of his ratings to bathe in the sea while he and Able Seaman Savage went to examine the beach. The bathers were then attacked by the natives and overwhelmed — one seaman named Venton knocking out two assailants before being killed. Seamen Carn, O'Neill, Paterson and Buckle were also murdered, and then decapitated. The native party then hauled the boat up from the water's edge in the knowledge that whoever was left would not be able to drag it back to the sea. Bower and Savage hid in the bush, having witnessed the massacre but being unable to intervene. During the night Savage swam to Florida Island in an attempt to reach Sandfly, and eventually reached her five days later with the help of friendly natives. Bower hid in a tree, but next morning was spotted and shot dead by Utomati with one of the rifles taken from the dead sailors. Bower's head was removed, and his arms and legs along with those of his dead men were cut off and lined up on the beach.

Bradford had meanwhile waited in vain for the return of Bower and his party, and the next day searched the area and

Bradford succeeded James Startin as Rear-Admiral of the Second Division of the Home Fleet on 9 October, 1909.

Bradford was placed on the Retired List at his own request, "in order to facilitate the promotion of younger officers", on 11 March, 1918.

Bibliography

• "Admiral Sir Edward Bradford" (Obituaries). The Times. Tuesday, 26 November, 1935. Issue 47231, col B, pg. 16.

Papers

• Papers in the possession of the National Maritime Museum.

Images

• Francis Dodd portrait in the possession of the Imperial War Museum. Catalogue Number IWM ART 4038.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/38.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/20.