Dedicated to Reg.#1991, Corporal Joseph Bradner  ·  R. I. P. Dédié à Matr.#1991, Caporal Joseph Bradner  ·  R. I. P.

Joseph Bradner was born on July 15, 1868, in Enniskerry/Glencree, Wicklow, Ireland. His remarkable life would include service in multiple police forces, military engagements, and civilian work across Canada. I want to sincerely thank my good friend now retired Vancouver Police Department Joanne McCormick for her original research into the life of NWMP Joseph Bradner. I would also like to thank Vancouver RCMP Veteran Ric Hall for his donation of the photographs of Joseph Bradner which I used in this short story.

In his early career, Bradner served in the Canadian Militia for three years. He was a member of the Brandon Infantry Company, though the exact dates of this service remain unclear. By 1891, at the age of 22, census records placed him working as a member of the North West Mounted Police (NWMP Reg.#1991) in Moose Jaw, SK.

On March 1, 1892, Bradner took a position as a turnkey (Guard) at the Regina Jail with an annual salary of $500. During this period, he also married Isabella Cook around 1890, and by 1899, they had three children aged 5, 2, and 1.

When the Second Boer War broke out in South Africa, Bradner enlisted with the Royal Canadian Dragoons in Winnipeg, MB. It was December 27, 1899. He served as a Sergeant, Service #307 with the Canadian Mounted Rifles for one year. After disembarking in South Africa on March 26, 1900, he saw significant action, earning the Queen’s Medal with five clasps for engagements at Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, Cape Colony, and Orange Free State. His South African service ended when he was invalided with acute nephritis. He received his discharge on January 13, 1901, when his term expired.

Following his Boer War service, Bradner returned to the NWMP/RNWMP, serving in ‘F’ Division (Saskatchewan). His police service was non-continuous, but according to his later Vancouver Police Department application, he accumulated approximately five years with the Force.

In November 1908, Bradner joined the Vancouver Police Department as a Constable, Badge #37. He served with the VPD until February 1910, after which he returned to civilian life. By 1913, records show him employed as a painter in Vancouver, a trade he would return to throughout his life.

When World War I began, Bradner was stationed at “Depot” in Regina with the RNWMP in 1914. He applied to re-engage with the RNWMP for war service with A Squadron for duty in France, but his request was denied due to his age. He was 46. Undeterred, Bradner attestated for military service on September 25, 1916, joining the Divisional Cycle Platoon as Sergeant, Service #542227. On his application, he understated his age by claiming an 1872 birth year instead of his actual 1868 birth date. He listed his trade as “soldier” with 11 years of experience, which led to his promotion to Sergeant in October 1916. However, Bradner never left Regina and he was discharged as medically unfit on January 25, 1917.

By 1918, Bradner had joined the Saskatchewan Provincial Police (SPP) and he was posted at Yorkton, SK. His family continued to grow, and by the time of his WWI Attestation, he was supporting four children, all living in Vancouver.

In 1927, records show Bradner crossing into the United States, where his occupation was listed as a painter and his residence as Nelson, British Columbia. His Death Certificate later noted that he worked for “the RCMP & Dominion Gov’t up to 1937.”

Joseph Bradner died on January 12, 1948, in Vancouver at the age of 79. Initially buried in an unmarked grave at Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver, he received a proper marker in 2020 through the efforts of the Veteran Affairs Canada Last Post Fund, finally recognizing his extensive service to Canada through multiple police forces and military engagements. His entire life was given to the service of Canada.