A woman attended the first Memorial Service at the Cenotaph wearing two Victoria Crosses. She was Ada Bradford of Co Durham and the medals had been won posthumously by two of her four sons.

The Bradford Brothers were all tall handsome young men and keen sportsmen, who had answered their country’s call. Three served with the Durham Light Infantry and one in the Royal Navy. They were to become Britain’s most decorated family of the First World War and three of them were to pay the ultimate price

Thomas Andrew Bradford, born in 1886 was the eldest brother and the only one to survive the war. He was wounded in the Second Battle of Ypres and later mentioned in despatches. He was to win the DSO while serving as a captain in 8DLI. He was appointed Brigade Major and given a permanent position in 1917 as a training officer with the York and Lancaster Regiment

He became active in politics, contesting the Seaham and Durham constituencies, after the war and was knighted for public and services political in Durham County. Sir Thomas, who was a Durham magistrate and director of the North East Housing Association died at his home, Eden Cottage in 1966 at the age of 80

George Nicholson Bradford was a top Navy, who won his VC as lieutenant-commander leading the assault troops who were storming the mole during the Zeebrugge Raid on 23 April, 1918. Royal Marines Light Infantry had to hold this concrete pier, which protected the harbour and hold back German troops while the Royal Navy sank block ships, intended to bottle up the U-boats threatening Allied convoys.

Thomas Baker Bradford, born in 1980, joined the Northumberland Hussars before serving with 8DLI, becoming a second lieutenant in 1915. He was a bombing office and was awarded the Military Cross in March, 1915 for leading troops who were throwing grenades into German trenches. He was wounded in the May of that year and died four days later in Arras.

Roland Boys Bradford, the youngest son, born in 1892, was the star of the family. He joined the DLI in 1912, being a second lieutenant on the outbreak of war, before being promoted to lieutenant after a battle near Troyon in September, 1914. A series of promotions took him to Lieutenant Colonel of 9DLI. He led an attack at Eaucort l’Abbay and was awarded the MC in 1915

He won his Victoria Cross during the Battle of the Somme where tanks were used for the first time in 1916. Roland Bradford was to become the youngest brigadier general in the British Army at the age of 25 in November, 1917.

Roland Bradford was killed bay a shell while leading his troops forward behind the tanks in the first major armoured battle at Cambrai at the end of that month.

Had he lived, this gifted officer may have become one of the best British generals of the Second World War. He was five years younger than Field Marshal Montgomery of Alamein and would possibly have commanded a division of the British Expeditionary Force in September, 1939.

There are number of memorials to the Bradford Brothers in Darlington and the town’s TA Centre is called the Bradford Armoury.