Representing nation: women, obituaries and national biography

Perhaps the most extraordinary obituary to appear in The Times in the 1950s was that of Amy M. Bradford. She was, it records, ‘the mother of four sons 5, much decorated in the First World War, one posthumously. Three of the four had been killed during the war. The obituary provides details about the second son's 'brave exploits 5 and the youngest son's 'act of conspicuous bravery and leadership in attack 5, an d the decorations that they won. A part from the characterisation of Bradford as 'the mother of four sons', the obituary refers to her life only in its final sentence:

On more than one occasion Mrs Bradford took her place at the Folkestone observance of Remembrance Day wearing the two Victoria Crosses and a Military Cross.