Major David Bradley Biography

David grew up on his family's farm in East Kent before attending Cardiff University. He began officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst after finishing with a degree in Ancient History and Religious Studies in 1992 and was commissioned into the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment in 1993. David participated in operations in Northern Ireland as a young infantry officer, as well as in Kenya, Germany, and Canada. He was sent to the 4th Armoured Brigade in 1999, just in time to participate in NATO's push into Kosovo. He spent four months dealing with the fallout from a deadly ethnic war, getting valuable insight into how leaders function under duress. He returned to his unit in August 2003 to take command of B Company after attending the Joint Services Staff College. They were told not to travel to Iraq soon after he arrived, so David began a period of rigorous training to prepare for what would be an incredibly challenging deployment. His Brigade landed in Iraq in April 2004, just in time to deal with the ongoing Shia revolt and escalating bloodshed. The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment was to confront the most severe warfare the British Army has seen since Korea at that period. As the insurgency gained traction, B Company in Basra had to engage with the local populace to attempt to reconstruct their destroyed city while still facing daily mortar, rocket, and machine-gun assaults. On August 9, a British patrol in the heart of Basra was cut off, and David and his company were charged with rescuing them. The patrol was salvaged after a three-hour flight, but one of the company's members was killed and seven others were injured, including David. The surgeon at the field hospital gave him a 5% chance of life due to serious wounds to his chest, right eye, hand, and shoulder. However, following emergency surgery, he was sent to a UK hospital and began the long process of physical therapy and recuperation. David was medically released from the Army after four years of recovery, which included six months at Headley Court and more than 20 surgeries. He went home to operate the family farm. He wanted one final challenge before he left. David sought something to put his arms and shoulder to the test after being inspired by fellow amputees who had gone on to run marathons. A buddy recommended they do the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race, which is regarded as the world's toughest marathon canoe race. They started off on March 22, 2008, after four months of intense preparation, and returned 27 hours later, having paddled nonstop over 125 miles through 77 locks in the worst circumstances the 60-year-old event had ever seen. In addition, they were able to raise $22,000 for Help for Heroes. David had been invited back to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to speak to the students on leadership in combat before he left the Army. This piqued his interest in speaking on the issue, and he has since spoken to both military and civilian groups about the significance and principles of leadership. David, his wife Lara, and their three children, as well as a growing zoo of pets, reside in East Kent. He tries to catch fish on the fly when the farm or the family allows him time.

As a renowned expert and highly sought-after speaker, Major David Bradley's expertise is in high demand. To book Major David Bradley for your next event, conference, or workshop, please contact our speaker booking agency. Our experienced team will work closely with you to understand your specific needs and help secure Major David Bradley's participation. With our professional guidance and seamless booking process, you can ensure a memorable and impactful experience for your audience. Don't miss the opportunity to engage your audience with Major David Bradley's compelling insights and inspire positive change within your organization. Fill out the booking request form to take the first step in securing Major David Bradley for your next speaking engagement.