John Leslie Bradbury

Police Constable 100, Toronto Police Department | Pilot Officer, Royal Canadian Air Force

John Leslie Bradbury was born on July 29th, 1911, to Ernest and Helen Bradbury of Aurora, Ontario. Bradbury grew up there, attending high school and serving in the Canadian Militia part-time with the 12th York Rangers, attaining the rank of Corporal. Bradbury left to study Science at Queen’s University. After two years of studies, Bradbury moved to Toronto, again serving in the militia with the 48th Highlanders of Canada, and thereafter joined the Toronto Police Service. He was sworn in as Police Constable No. 100, and served out of No. 5 Police Station in the area of Davenport and Avenue Roads. He lived at 297 Briar Hill Ave with his wife Ruby and their three children John, Joan and Peter.

On June 26th 1940, PC Bradbury enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force at No. 1 Manning Depot in Toronto. Bradbury was selected as air crew and succeeded in pilot training. Bradbury proceeded to the United Kingdom and was assigned to Bomber Command where he rose to the rank of Pilot Officer. Bradbury was then posted to No. 20 Operational Training Unit at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.

On the night of March 31st 1942, Bradbury was the pilot in command of a Wellington Bomber aircraft, identification number R1760, on a training mission for night-flying and bombing practice. Suddenly, while flying over the North Sea 80 kilometres from land, the aircraft’s engines failed and the propeller hub caught fire. 

Bradbury set a new course for the coast, ordered his crew to dinghy stations, and attempted a landing at sea. While attempting to land, a main propeller broke off and Bradbury was unable to maintain correct height. At 4 minutes after midnight, April 1st 1942, R1760 crashed into the North Sea one mile off of Cruden Bay, Scotland and sank within five seconds. Bradbury was killed along with three of his crew. Due to Bradbury’s  leadership and swift actions, two of his crew were rescued from their dinghy with slight injuries.

Police Constable John Leslie Bradbury is commemorated at the Air Forces Memorial – Runnymede in Surrey, England.

Research Sources:

  • D. Draper – Annual Report of the Chief Constable of the City of Toronto for the Year 1942, Page 10. Toronto: The Carswell Co Ltd City Printers, 1943.
  • W.R. Chorley – Bomber Command Losses of The Second World War, Volume 7: Operational Training Units 1940-1947, Page 107.  Hinckley, UK: Midland Publishing .
  • Queen’s University Archives – Queen’s Remembers [Exhibit]. https://archives.queensu.ca/exhibits/queens-remembers/
  • Library and Archives Canada. Service File of No. J250 John Leslie Bradbury.
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Casualty Details for No. J250 John Leslie Bradbury.
  • The Toronto Daily Star (1942, June 25th), Page 8 . “Told Husband Died in Action As Hero”.