Six years after they first reached out to the Bradfield Society to visit the college we were pleased to welcome the family of Adrian Henry Hack back to Bradfield at the end of March 2026. First discussed and planned before the Covid lockdown back in 2020, we had an email from Adrian Hack whose Great Uncle and namesake sadly died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in July 1916 at 25 years of age.

His grave was originally marked by a wooden cross which Adrian had read about at the Dorking Museum being stored at the college. Bradfield has 16 battlefield crosses from the First World War and they have been on display behind the college chapel since the Centenary commemorations of the end of WW1 in 2018 at the college. More about Adrian and his family at the time from the Dorking Museum website here

12 Bradfieldians died at the Battle of the Somme on July 1 1916 and a number of others are listed as passing away from their wounds in the days to follow. It was a very sad time for everyone at Bradfield College.

Adrian was a Lieutenant in the 8th Battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and killed in action gallantly leading his men in an attack.

His family travelled down from Leicestershire to visit the college and had a tour of the Archive, display of crosses, Chapel and lunch in Dining Hall.