Westminster Chronicle of King Richard II, 1381-1394

The Westminster Chronicle is one of the most vivid and important narrative sources for the reign of Richard II. Written by an anonymous chronicler closely connected with Westminster Abbey, it covers the years 1381 to 1394, from the Peasants’ Revolt to the political tensions, court ceremonies, diplomatic negotiations, royal progresses, and public crises of Richard’s later reign. Rich in detail the chronicle records major events such as the conflicts between the King and Lords Appellant, King and the City of London, negotiations with France and Scotland, the death and funeral of Queen Anne of Bohemia, the illness of Charles VI of France, and the changing fortunes of leading nobles including John of Gaunt, Thomas of Gloucester, Robert de Vere, and the Earl of Arundel. The Chronicle offers readers a remarkable window into late fourteenth-century England, combining political observation, courtly spectacle, urban drama, ecclesiastical affairs, and moral judgement. It is an essential source for anyone interested in medieval monarchy, London, Westminster, and the troubled reign of Richard II.

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General Thomas Bradford 1777-1853

1808 Battle of Vimeiro

1809 Battle of Corunna

1812 Battle of Salamanca

1813 Battle of Vitoria

On 1st December 1777 General Thomas Bradford was born to Thomas Bradford of Woodlands in South Yorkshire.

In October 1793 General Thomas Bradford [aged 15] was commissioned as an ensign in the 4th (The King's Own) Regiment of Foot.

Between 1797 and 1810. George Sanders [aged 23]. Portrait of General Thomas Bradford [aged 19].

In 1798 General Thomas Bradford [aged 20] took part in the suppression of the Irish Rebellion.

In 1806 General Thomas Bradford [aged 28] took part in the Buenos Aires Expedition.

On 21st August 1808 the Battle of Vimeiro was fought at which Earl of Wellington [aged 39] defeated the French under Major-General Jean-Andoche Junot near the village of Vimeiro.

General Thomas Bradford [aged 30] fought.

On 16th January 1809 the Battle of Corunna was fought when a French corps under Marshal of the Empire Jean de Dieu Soult attacked a British army under Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore.

Brothers General Thomas Bradford [aged 31] and Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Hollis Bradford [aged 27] fought.

On 22nd July 1812 the Battle of Salamanca was fought at which an Anglo-Portuguese army under the Earl of Wellington [aged 43] defeated Marshal Auguste Marmont's French forces at Arapiles [Map].

Brother General Thomas Bradford [aged 34] and Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Hollis Bradford [aged 31] fought.

Major-General John Le Marchant [aged 46] was killed in action. Wellington is reported as saying to Le Marchant that he must take the first favourable opportunity to engage the enemy's infantry, "You must then charge at all hazards" was his final instruction. Following up the attack of the 5th Infantry Division Le Marchant led the 3rd and 4th Dragoons and the 5th Dragoon Guards in what was probably the most destructive charge made by a single brigade of cavalry in the whole Napoleonic period. The left wing of the French army were on the point of being defeated by the 3rd and 5th divisions of Anglo-Portuguese infantry when Le Marchant's dragoons charged in and destroyed battalion after battalion. Many of the French infantrymen sought the protection of the British infantry to escape the sabres of the dragoons. Le Marchant, knowing he had achieved a magnificent success, was leading a squadron against the last of the formed French infantry when he was shot and his spine broken. See Fletcher's "Galloping at Everything: The British Cavalry in the Peninsula and at Waterloo 1808-15". Spellmount, Staplehurst. ISBN 1-86227-016-3. 1999, pp. 185–188.

On 21st June 1813 the Battle of Vitoria was a British, Portuguese and Spanish army under the Marquess of Wellington [aged 44] defeated a French army under King Joseph Bonaparte and Marshal Jean-Baptiste Jourdan.

Brothers General Thomas Bradford [aged 35] and Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Hollis Bradford [aged 31] fought.

Hugh Gough 1st Viscount Gough [aged 33] fought.

General Henry Fane [aged 34] commanded.

General Mildmay Fane [aged 18] fought.

On 1st June 1818 General Thomas Bradford [aged 40] and Mary Ann Atkinson were married.

Around 1825 [his son] Lieutenant-Colonel Ralph Bradford was born to General Thomas Bradford [aged 47] and [his wife] Mary Ann Atkinson. He married 16th September 1858 Amy Emily Sarah Fitzroy.

On 14th February 1830 [his wife] Mary Ann Atkinson died at sea on their passage homewards from India. She was buried in the vault at St Andrew's Church, Hartburn [Map] on 16th May 1830.

On 23rd November 1841 General Thomas Bradford [aged 63] was appointed General.

On 28th November 1853 General Thomas Bradford [aged 75] died. He was buried at St Andrew's Church, Hartburn [Map].