Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Charles Robert Broome a master baker, born 1861 in Loddington, Leicestershire and his wife Eliza Broome (nee Randall, married in the 4th quarter of 1882 in the Oakham, Rutland district), born 1858 in Knossington. Charles was born in the 1st quarter of 1895 in Knossington, his siblings were Janet, born 1885, Arthur William, born 1888, Francis Robert, born 11th July 1890 and John Edward, born 1st June 1899, all his siblings were born in Knossington, in March 1901 the family home was at Braunston Road, Knossington. In April 1911 Charles was employed as a domestic gardener and was residing in the family home at Knossington, together with his father, a baker, his mother and siblings, Arthur, a baker, Francis, a grocer’s assistant and John, a schoolboy. Charles also had and elder sister, Ethel Marian, born 1884 in Knossington. Although Charles was residing with his parents at the time of enlistment into the Army in November 1914, by 1919 his parents are no longer shown to exist, though his father died in 1934 in Argentina. His sole legatee was given as a Miss Mary Dawson, 3, Aberdare Street, Barrow in Furness, Lancashire. And it seems that his affairs were being dealt with by his brother-in-law, Ernest Drewett, of Knossington, who was the husband of Charles’s late sister Janet.
Charles attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (Three years with the Colours.) on the 9th November 1914 in Melton Mowbray. He gave his place of birth as Knossington, Oakham, Leicestershire, his age as 19 years and 333 days and his trade or calling as footman. He confirmed that he was still residing in his father’s house and that he was unmarried. He gave his mother, Elizabeth Broome and his brother, Arthur William Broome, both of Knossington, near Oakham as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 7 inches in height, weighed 139 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 34½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and he had brown eyes. His physical development was described as normal. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 9th November 1914 in Melton Mowbray. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 15936 on the 9/11/14. Posted to the 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment in Aldershot on the 22/11/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Wounded in action, in the field on the 14/7/16. Admitted to the 64th Field Ambulance suffering from gunshot wounds to his legs, fractured right tibia on the 15/7/16. Admitted to the 13th General Hospital at Boulogne on the 17/7/16. Died of wounds in the 13th General Hospital, Boulogne on the 26/7/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 9/11/14 – 28/7/15, 269 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 26/7/16, 363 days. Total service 1 year and 266 days. Charles was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Charles’ brother-in-law Ernest Drewett, of Knossington, Oakham, no date was recorded, and the form was not witnessed and signed, on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, none. Mother of soldier, none. Full blood brothers of soldier, Arthur, of Knossington, Oakham, Frank, of Victoria Avenue, Market Harborough, John, of Victoria Avenue, Market Harborough. Full blood sister of soldier, E. Janes, of Victoria Avenue, Market Harborough. Charles’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 14 Jul-16 - MAMETZ WOOD. ATTACK ON BAZENTIN LE PETIT WOOD and village by the 110th Brigade. The Battalion was drawn up for the assault in four lines. The first three lines were in front of MAMETZ WOOD and were to move forward in succession at ZERO, the first line to take, clear and hold the German first line, the remainder to push on to capture and consolidate the FOREST TRENCH (enemy support line). The fourth line were drawn up behind the north edge of MAMETZ WOOD to move forward half an hour after ZERO, and push forward through FOREST TRENCH ready to assault the German third line. By 2.55 am all dispositions were made, each platoon being on its correct adjustment. A number of casualties were suffered during this operation, one platoon of “C” Company losing almost half its number. The men behaved admirably under trying conditions. At ZERO 3.25 am when the barrage lifted our first line trench was hardly close enough to it to rush the first line before the enemy could man it, as a result the advance was rather ragged. The right (“A”) Company in conjunction with the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT had little difficulty in entering the trench. The left (“D”) Company were momentarily held up by machine gun fire but managed to keep up close to the parapet and rush the line. The two centre (“B” and “C”) Companies were held up for about 20 minutes by machine guns. The pressure was relieved by parties from the right working down a flank. The centre Companies were then able to rush the trench. The second and third lines coming on, swept the remainder of the first line then, and made for the second line (FOREST TRENCH). By this time of the officers of “B” Company only 2nd Lieutenant EVANS was left, in “C” Company only 2nd Lieutenant REED, while in “D” Company all the officers were out of action. The enemy in the first line trench at first made some resistance but many were caught in their dug outs, and the rest seeing that they could not stop our rush retreated into the WOOD and made no resistance in the FOREST TRENCH. By 4.00 am our whole line was in occupation of FOREST TRENCH and the work of consolidation was begun. Captain A. A. CLARKE taking command. 2nd Lieutenant EVANS then sent back Company Sergeant Major GEARY to ensure that the German first line was cleared of the enemy. This N.C.O. with his party found a number of the enemy who had been passed over in the rush. In the meantime the left Company (“D”) after pushing on too eagerly under our barrage and being forced to retire, turned towards the flank and established connection with the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT At 4.25 am Captain A. A. CLARKE, leaving 2nd Lieutenant EVANS in charge of the first trench, went forward in charge of the party to capture the third objective. No resistance was met with on the right, but on the left considerable trouble was caused by a machine gun and by snipers and close by the observation post in the tree both Captain CLARKE and Lieutenant WAKEFORD were hit. This left the assaulting line without an officer, but Sergeant WALKER (“A” Company) and Lance Sergeant SHERLOCK (“C” Company) rallied their men and made good this line. There was no German trench in this position and in some cases the men again pressed forward and came under fire from our own barrage. Meanwhile the left (“D” Company) being checked by the machine gun on the crest of the wood and being unable to make headway were rallied by Lance Corporal BUSH, and an attempt was made to get round the position on the right, with the result that this party lost direction in the wood and finally found itself among the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT Lance Corporal BUSH then placed himself under the orders of an officer of that Battalion. Almost before the barrage lifted, the party under Sergeant WALKER rushed the German trench on the north side of the wood. The enemy made no resistance here and being caught between the barrage of shell fire and our advancing line gave themselves up. By 6.45 am we were established in the line on North edge of the wood. Subsequently officers of the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT bringing up supports took over command of this sector. About 7.15 am Captain GWYTHER was commanding the Battalion, ordered 2nd Lieutenant EVANS to push forward from FOREST TRENCH in support of the front line, on reaching the position selected for the strong point on the RAILWAY, this party came under machine gun fire from the north west corner of the wood, 2nd Lieutenant EVANS took up the line covering the strong point and prepared for reconnaissance. The position therefore at 8.00 am was:- Northern edge of the wood held by us. Possession of the North West corner doubtful. Line of RAILWAY and strong point secured by us. Throughout the morning the enemy kept up an intermittent bombardment with 150mm Howitzers and a few 77mm’s, which grew in intensity about midday and during the afternoon. About 1.00 pm it was believed that the Germans were still holding the entire edge of the wood at the North Western corner and an assaulting party of the 7th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT was organised to clear them out. The bushes and trees were very thick round this point which necessarily made progress slow, the enemy evacuating and manning a trench about 30 yards from the wood, before our men could get through we suffered several casualties from a machine gun in the above mentioned trench. An attempt was made about 9 o clock to reorganise the Battalion, as they were considerably mixed up, most of the officers becoming casualties. Lieutenant Colonel DRYSDALE was wounded whilst the Battalion was marching to its position in front of MAMETZ WOOD, Captain and Adjutant A. A. ALDWORTH taking command. Captain’s WRIGHT, GIFFORD, Lieutenant’s. BURNETT, HOLLIS, ABBOTT and 2nd Lieutenant’s. NEWTON, GUTTERIDGE and BAIN being all killed before our troops reached the first line. 2nd Lieutenant PICKERING-CLARKE, SIMPSON and REID also Lieutenant WAKEFORD were killed in the wood. The wounded officers were Captain A. A. CLARKE, Lieutenant HOUGHTON and 2nd Lieutenant’s. THOMPSON, WEBB and ORRIT-NICHOL. Our total casualties were 18 officers and 535 men killed and wounded. Our men along with the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT manned the trenches at the edge of the wood and remained there until next morning. The night was quick.
On Friday August 11th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – KNOSSINGTON SOLDIER KILLED. It is officially reported that Pte. Charles Broome, Knossington, of the Leicestershire Regiment, Territorial Force, has died of wounds in the 13th General Hospital, Boulogne. He was trained at Aldershot, and went to the front in July last year. He was 21 years of age. He was respected and liked by all who knew him, and the deepest sympathy is expressed on every hand with the sorrowing family. This makes the seventh Knossington soldier who has fallen in the war.