Marion, Ohio, was notified that her son Leonard H. Bradshaw had died of bronchial pneumonia and another son, Willard L. Bradshaw, was wounded and in a Hospital in France. Both of her boys served with D Company of Marion, Ohio.
Leonard H. Bradshaw was born on 28 July 1895. His parents were James M. & Nancy A. (Brown) Bradshaw. Prior to leaving Marion, Leonard was employed with the Marion Steam Shovel. Leonard was a member of D Company when they organized for service in World War One. Corporal (Cpl.) Leonard Bradshaw was wounded in action on 1 October 1918. He would later die of pneumonia on 12 October 1918.
At the memorial service held at Fite Memorial Baptist Church, Reverend F. F. Hawes talked much about the love of Christ. He quoted from the Bible, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” He also talked much about Christ laying down his life for humanity and talked of the sacrifice of soldiers. He said that these brave men answered the call of their country. And asked, “Why? Dare we say, “because he was looking for a life of ease? No every man that enlisted knew that he would be called upon to endure privations, hardship and suffering. What then? Was it money? Hardly. Many who enlisted gave up positions which paid from $2.00 to $10.00 a day and went to Europe to fight the Huns for $30.00 a month. Was it fame and the applause of men that led these boys to go to war with Germany? No, not fame. The names of the great mass of soldiers are never read by the public except in the casualty list.” He went on to say that a young man returned from the battle front with one arm and said, “I offered America my life, but she only took my arm.” Prior to enlisting, Leonard Bradshaw said to his mother, “No other mother’s boy shall do my fighting.””
Cpl. Leonard H. Bradshaw was first buried in Toul, France. His remains were disinterred on 8 March 1921, and prepared for return to the United States. His remains arrived in Hoboken, New Jersey, aboard the U. S. A. T. Wheaton (funeral ship), on 8 May 1921.
Corporal Leonard H. Bradshaw is buried in the Marion Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.
Leonard H. Bradshaw is remembered Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio; and on the World War One Honor Roll, located on the second floor of the Marion County Courthouse.
Willard L. Bradshaw (brother to Leonard) was born 3 April 1888. His parents were James M. & Nancy A. (Brown) Bradshaw. Willard was also enlisted with D Company when they responded to the call to arms for World War One. Private Willard Bradshaw was wounded at the Second Battle of the Marne, on 29 July 1918. He was injured near the Orecq River. This was the last major offensive of the Germans.
Willard would return to Marion and retire as an Erie Railroad machinist. Willard died on 19 July 1963, and is buried in the Chapel Heights Memory Gardens, Marion, Ohio.
Leonard and Willard’s father, James M. Bradshaw, was a veteran of D Company, 140 Regiment O. V. I.
LEONARD BRADSHAW
DIES, BROTHER INJURED
Former Victim of Pneumonia,
Mother is notified.
BOTH ARE MEMBERS OF
MARION’S D COMPANY
Willard Bradshaw, in Hospital,
Suffering from Wounds – Mrs.
Emma Bradshaw, Mother.
One son dead of bronchial pneumonia and another son wounded and in a hospital “somewhere in France” is the sad news received by Mrs. Emma Bradshaw, of No. 728 Uncapher avenue.
From The Marion Daily Star dated 11-5-1918
Mrs. Bradshaw received a telegram from Washington last evening, containing the intelligence of her son’s death and the news of her other son’s condition reached her a few weeks ago.
Corporal Leonard Bradshaw, who died October 12, was twenty-three years old, July 28. He and his brother, Willard, left Marion together with D Company, 166th infantry, August 13, 1917, and had been together all the time up to July, when the later was wounded in one of the big drives and was sent to a hospital.
In Worst of Fighting.
Since that time Corporal Bradshaw had been in most of the hard fighting. His mother received a letter from him dated September 22. The young man was well at that time and was participating in the war to the best of his ability.
Young Bradshaw was a member of the Fite Memorial Sunday-school and of the Christian Endeavor society of that church. He was the first of the thirty-five young men of this congregation in the service to make the supreme sacrifice. The young man was a member of the American Insurance union and was employed at the Marion Steam Shovel shops.
Surviving Relatives.
Aside from his mother, he is survived by the following brothers and sisters, Mrs. Alva White and Miss Odra Bradshaw, of Marion; Mrs. O. E. Russell and Luther Bradshaw, of Chesterville. He also leaves the following half-brothers and sisters, Mrs. R. L. Shaffer, of Ironton; W. S. Bradshaw, of Logan, West Virginia; E. O. Bradshaw and Miss Ella Bradshaw, of Chicago, Illinois; Mrs. Charles Brown, of Elgin, Texas.
Honoring Marion Ohio Veterans 