The Story of Wilmington Bradley

Six hundred and thirty-two young Black men with close ties to Williamsburg County found themselves from 1917 to 1919 in situations they could not have imagined only a year or two earlier. They were called to serve their country during World War I. But because of the color of their skin, they were, with a few exceptions, not allowed in combat. Instead, they were put in support roles as part of the Quartermaster Corps, as mechanics, as road workers, stevedores, and other such jobs. And, they were in many ways just as much "hidden figures" as the Black women of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) were a generation or so later–until Margot Lee Shetterly brought these unsung ladies to our attention in her book, Hidden Figures. Newspapers, for the most part, did not tell the stories of Black World War I veterans, either, but in the past few years, as military records and other documents have been put online, it has become possible to get some sense of their roles during the war, and, in some cases, to find out more about their lives. From time to time here, we will share some of the stories of these young men from Williamsburg County as they are pieced together. Today, we look at the life of Wilmington "Bunk" Bradley.

The County Record office was behind these second-story windows in the 

Gourdin Building on Main Street when Wilmington Bradley came into

his own as the paper's pressman while he was in his teens and early 20s.

Wilmington Bradley's birthdate is something of a mystery, as a number of dates were used on public documents over his life. It seems likely that April 5, 1890, may be the most accurate. This is likely because it lines up with some other dates from his life's story. In 1900, he was living on E. Main Street, the youngest son of Andrew and Tena Fulton Bradley. The census record notes that he was attending school, but it seems that when Charles Wolfe bought The County Record in 1898, he hired an eight-year-old Wilmington as a roller boy and errand runner for the paper. Wilmington also did other chores around the newspaper office and became very interested in the operation of the press, so much so that several years later, he was hired as the newspaper's pressman. This was probably around 1911, or so, when James Tharpe, who had operated the paper's press for years was forced to retire as his health no longer allowed him to do the hard work of a pressman.

A 1919 article in The County Record noted that "for several years (Bradley) pulled the old Washington hand press with the skill and efficiency of a (Benjamin) Franklin. In later years he had charge of the big cylinder and job presses, which supplanted the old hand and foot-powered machines, at the same time acquiring a knowledge of the plant's gasoline or kerosene engine that enabled him to get the best service out of these usually vexatious mechanisms."

This no doubt means that Wilmington Bradley was part of the newspaper's staff when the paper was published from a little cottage on the corner of the Hammet property on W. Main Street and moved with the paper to the second floor of the Gourdin building and later still moved again when the paper took over the old Bank of Kingstree building.

The County Record would have been located in the building with the 
double arches, the old Bank of Kingstree, when Bunk Bradley was
drafted into the US Army during World War I.

In 1910, Wilmington, or "Bunk" as he was known around town, was still living on E. Main, but with his sister and brother-in-law, Viola and Nathaniel Kennedy. He apparently also held a job as ironer at the laundry on days when the newspaper press was not operating, as that occupation is listed on the census.

On June 5, 1917, all young men in the United States were required to register for military service. Wilmington Bradley registered that day, along with 1,658 other Black men, 886 White men, and two resident aliens from Williamsburg County. His draft card lists his occupation as pressman for The County Record.

Wilmington Bradley's World War I draft card.

Source: Ancestry.com

By the time he was inducted into the military on June 19, 1918, he had been employed by The County Record for 20 years, and was still in his 20s. He was a part of the 156th Depot Brigade until August 14, 1918. From August 30, 1918, until July 4, 1919, he was a Private in Company D, 534th Engineers. He departed New York with his unit on August 30 aboard the transport steamer Harrisburg and spent the next 10 months working on roads in France as a part of the American Expeditionary Forces. He was honorably discharged on July 15, 1919. He returned to Kingstree that day, took the next day off, and on Thursday, July 17, was once again at work as pressman for The County Record. 

Some time after his return to Kingstree, he married Vermell Franklin, a daughter of Joseph and Queenie Franklin, and by 1935, they had relocated to Philadelphia. The 1940 census indicates that Wilmington had spent 1939 unemployed but had in 1940 secured a position with the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

In 1942, at age 51, he once again registered for military service. His Pennsylvania draft card notes that he was 5-feet, 6.5-inches tall and weighed 170 pounds. It also designates his race as White, describing him as having hazel eyes, dark complexion and brown/gray hair, with the distinguishing feature of a scar on his left arm. There is no indication that he actually served in World War II, nor is there any indication that he was considered White in any of his other endeavors in Philadelphia.

He died there on July 26, 1946, his death certificate indicating that his body was brought back to Kingstree for burial.