War

Robert Bradene was born in Sicily, Italy on November 22, 1897. He immigrated to Canada with his family in 1906. He arrived with his mother Julia and father Vincent, along with brother Columbus and sister Emile. The family settled and remained in Brantford. The Bradene family were Roman Catholics and Robert made his living as a driver. He was a member of the 38th Dufferin Rifles militia. Throughout his life Robert never married and never had children. During the First World War, he enlisted in the 215th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force at the age of 18. Vincent Bradene, Robert’s father, also enlisted with his son at the age of 37. The CEF became so well known for their combat efficiency that the Germans nicknamed them ‘stormtroopers’. Robert Bradene survived the Great War and was honourably discharged at the rank of sergeant, the same rank as his father. After he left the military Robert Bradene spent the rest of his working life as a clerk at a hotel in Brantford, meaning that unfortunately he did not continue to do what he loved after the war which was driving.