_{The gravestone of Richard Albert,  Bradshaw. Brookwood Military Cemetery, Plot No. 30, Row C, Grave No. 2}

Richard Albert, Bradshaw was born on October 14,1916. Richard Jr. was the son of Richard Albert, Bradshaw Sr. (Father) and Amy Elizabeth, Bradshaw. (Mother) (Married on May 15th, 1915). Sadly Mr. and Mrs Bradshaw were both alive when their son died in the war. Richard Albert, Bradshaw Jr. had a younger sister by the name of Hazel Joyce, Bradshaw.

Richard Albert, Bradshaw belonged to a fairly wealthy family. He also belonged to protestant family which was a higher class. Richard and his sister grew up on 153 Nepean St. in downtown Ottawa. When he was student at Glebe he was a part of the Collegiate Cadets.

To start of his military career Richard joined the Non-Permanent Active Militia Of Canada on the 6th of June, 1930. Richard would have only been 13 when he signed his registration form but he lied and said that he was born in 1914. The commanding officer believed him and accepted his form, but Richard was not big fellow at this time. He was 5,4" standing and 103lbs. But he still started his annual training on April 30th 1931, but got struck off strength 2 days later.

Richard Joined the Permanent force of Canada on July 15th  1935 (Still a single man). He was assigned to the No. 1 depot of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. He was then Transferred to the No.  6 Detachment on November 30 1936 as a private but them appointed to L/Corporal on November 10th 1937 still stationed in Glacis Barracks, Halifax, Nova Scotia. 2 years later he was appointed to Corporal but then War began.

He landed in Aldershot, London, England on June 21 1940,Living in the Canadian Military Headquarters. While he was in London he was doing Clerical work  at the headquarters where he was stationed. His daily work would have been to stack papers and do some filling. 2 months later on August 8th he was injured. It is unknown how he was injured, but he was admitted to the Queen Alexandra Hul Hospital in Millbank, London, England. He was discharged the next day. On the 4th of November 1940 he was granted medical leave. That was the last time he ever worked for the military.

It is not evident how he spent his medical leave, but on the 8th of March 1941 he was at the nightclub/ restaurant, Cafe Du Paris, in Coventry St., London, England. Richard and his buddy, Gordon Warpren Quinn decided to listen to Ken "Snakehips" Johnson and the West Indian Orchestra. Time Magazine reported what happened that night.

Sirens had sounded. Most of London had descended into shelters, but to those in the cabaret, time seemed too dear to squander underground. Bombs began to fall near by: it was London’s worst night raid in weeks. The orchestra played Oh, Johnny a little louder.

Then the hit came. What had been a nightclub became a nightmare: heaps of wreckage crushing the heaps of dead and maimed, a shambles of silver slippers, broken magnums, torn sheet music, dented saxophones, smashed discs.

Both Richard and Gordon died that night. Some pictures of the wreckage are shown at the bottom. They were both buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery.

Richard died single, with no children, but he left a sad father and mother. I am sure both Richard and his family thought his job would have been one of the more safe jobs in the military. He wasn't on the front lines but he was still a help and did what he could. He died a tragic death, but like all the soldiers in the war we should remember him as a hero

_{This is the Uniform Richard would have worn when he was serving}

_{These Pictures were taking March 9th 1941 at Cafe Du Paris. The are right there would have been where Richard Albert, Bradshaw would have died}

"Royal Canadian Army Service Corps - Officers Uniforms 1939-1945." Royal Canadian Army Service Corps - The Royal Canadian Army Service Corps  . N.p., n.d. Web. 2 May 2012.

"Memorial: Warrant Officer Class II Richard Albert Bradshaw - Canada at War." Canada at War. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2012.

"The Cafe de Paris, the Trial of Elvira Barney and the death of Snakehips Johnson." Another Nickel In the Machine. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2012. .