Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He weas the son of Samuel Broughton, a printer’s compositor, born in the July quarter of 1847 in St. Peter’s, Derby (son of John Broughton, 1801 and Lydia Jones, 1817) and his wife Anne Eliza Broughton (nee Allen, married in the July quarter of 1870 in St. Mary’s Gate Baptist Chapel, Derby), born in the April quarter of 1844 in St. Alkmund’s, Derby. Harry William, a schoolboy, was born in the January quarter of 1876 in Leicester, his siblings were, Annie Louisa, a schoolgirl, born in the July quarter of 1871, Alfred John, a schoolboy, born on the 28th August 1873 and Frank Kelly, born on the 14th June 1880, all his siblings were born in Leicester, in April 1881 the family home was at 30, Clarendon Street, St. Mary’s, Leicester. In April 1891 Harry (Henry) was employed as an auctioneer’s clerk and was residing in the family home at 30, Clarendon Street, Leicester, together with his father, a compositor, his mother and siblings, Annie, a hosiery trade worker, Alfred, an apprentice mechanic, Frank, a schoolboy, Edith, a schoolgirl, born in the July quarter of 1883 and John Allen, a schoolboy, born on the 9th June 1885, the latter two siblings were both born in Leicester. Harry’s mother died in the April quarter of 1896 in Leicester, aged 52 and his father died in the January quarter of 1897 in Leicester, aged 49. In March of 1901 Harry was serving a sentence of imprisonment at Parkhurst Prison, Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight, Hampshire. In April 1911 Harry was employed as an electric car driver and was residing at 41, Burley’s Lane, Leicester together with his wife Emma Broughton (nee Fenning, married in the April quarter of 1906 in Leicester), born on the 2nd December 1866 in Sutton Bonington, Nottinghamshire.
NOTE: Officially recorded at birth as Harry William, he has been variously documented as Harry, Henry, William Henry, William Harry and William.
William enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 9th December in 1915, in Leicester and was allotted the service number 37543. He gave his trade or calling as motorman.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 21st October 1916 and recorded his apparent age as 40 years 300 days, that he was 5 feet 7 inches in height, weighed 117 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 31½ and 34 inches, his physical development was described as thin, moderate. The following distinctive marks were noted, scar left elbow, mole left -?-. He gave his religion as Church of England.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Attested. Leicester 9/12/15.
To Army Reserve. Pte. 9/12/15.
Mobilized. 21/2/17.
Posted. Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 22/2/17.
Transferred. To 12th Training Reserve Bn. Pte. Allotted service number TR6/6349. 28/2/17.
Admitted. To Military Hospital, Cannock Chase, Rugeley, Staffordshire. Bronchitis. 15/3/17.
Died. 2.20pm. 29/3/17.
Report of circumstances of death; Patient made good recovery from his bronchitis and was getting up most of day, temperature normal, two days before death temperature was raised for two days, on day of death patient had good dinner, about 1.00pm was resting in bed when heart attack developed at 2.10pm, death taking place at 2.20pm.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 9/12/15 – 29/3/17. 1 year 111 days.
Total Service. 1 year 111 days.
William’s surviving service record is in extremely poor condition, the hand written information in some cases is barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his short period of service.
On the 21st November 1917 William’s widow was awarded a weekly Army Pension of thirteen shillings and nine pence, to commence on the 8th October 1917.