Name
John Eric Broad
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/03/1918
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 89 and 90.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford,
St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford,
Aldenham School Memorial, Aldenham,
Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
(John) Eric Broad was the eldest son of Thomas John Broad of Earlsgate, Watford, H.M. Coroner for Watford division. His Mother was Amelia Florence Coles, younger daughter of W.T Coles J.P. of Watford.
His parents married 24 May 1893 at St Andrew’s, Watford. Thomas died 14 December 1920 in Watford aged 68, and was buried 17 December in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Amelia died 13 April 1930 in Watford aged 62, and was buried 16 April, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Eric was born 26 April 1894 in Watford, and baptised 17 May 1894 at St Andrew’s, Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 6 he lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, a schoolboy aged 16, he lived at Aldenham School, Elstree, Herts.
He was a law student before the war, articled to T H Bower of 4 Bream’s Buildings, London E.C.
Wartime Service
He attested 3 September 1914 at Euston Road, London W.C. in the Territorial Force for 4 years’ service in the U.K.: aged 30, 5’9″ tall, C of E; Private 2212 in the 28th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Artists’ Rifles). He had previously been a Cadet in the Aldenham School, Herts, O.T.C.
He served at Home 3 September 1914 to 27 March 1915, when he embarked from Southampton.
He served with the B.E.F. 28 March to 13 October 1915, during which time he was admitted to 7th General Hospital with mumps, transferred to 14th Stationery Hospital Wimereux 20 September 1915, finally transferred to England aboard Hospital Ship St David 13 October 1915.
He served at Home again 14 October to 27 November 1915, when he was discharged in consequence of being appointed Second Lieutenant in the 2/1st Hertfordshire Regiment. He was gazetted Second Lieutenant 2 December 1915 and promoted to Lieutenant December 1916.
He returned to France in October 1917 and was killed in action at Mont St Quentin near Peronne during Operation Michael while fighting a rearguard action, covering the retirement of the men under his command. He was originally posted as Missing but confirmation and an account of his death in action was provided by letter from a Black Watch P.O.W.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 27 March 1915; the medals were sent to his father of Watford.
Additional Information
There are articles about John in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 13 April 1918 and 29 June 1918, with a Death announcement in the latter issue.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar and he has a listing in that De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour.
John and his brother Francis
are also commemorated on the family headstone in Watford Cemetery. Their inscription reads:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
JOHN ERIC BROAD. LIEUT. 1ST
HERTS REGT. BORN 26TH APRIL 1894. KILLED AT MONT ST. QUENTIN 23RD MARCH 1918.
ALSO OF
FRANCES BOASE BROAD M.C.
CAPT. 1ST MIDDX REGT. BORN 20TH APRIL 1895 KILLED NEAR ENGLEFONTAINE 14TH
OCTOBER 1916.
ELDER SONS OF MR. T. J. BROAD OF THIS TOWN.
IN AUGUST 1914 THEY
CHEERFULLY ANSWERED “THE CALL” AND BRAVELY AND LOYALLY SERVED THEIR KING AND
COUNTRY UNTIL THEY EACH MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE.
BURIED IN FRANCE
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners
Neil Cooper, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
