Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Jacob Thomas Brombley a tailor’s pressman, born 1871 in Wednesbury, Staffordshire, and his wife Elizabeth Ann Brombley (nee Biggs, married in the 3rd quarter of 1891 in the Leicester district), born 1872 in Leicester. Horace Jacob was born in the 1st quarter of 1896 in Leicester, his siblings were William Arthur, born on the 5th June 1897, Alice, born in the 4th quarter of 1898 and Beatrice Lydia, born on the 12th March 1901, all his siblings were born in Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at 160, Syston Street, Leicester. In April 1911 Horace was employed as a shoe trade clicker and was residing in the family home at 26, Southampton Street, Leicester, together with his father, a tailor’s presser, his mother, a tailoress and his siblings, William, a schoolboy, Alice, a schoolgirl, Beatrice, a schoolgirl and Grace Hilda, born on the 21st March 1911 in Leicester.
Horace enlisted into the Regular Army on the 7th June 1915 in Leicester, and was allocated the service number 20106. He gave his age as 20 years and 159 days, marital status as unmarried and trade or calling as Clicker.
His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 3 inches in height, weighed # lbs, had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34½ inches. He gave his next of kin as his father, Jacob Brombley, 26, Southampton Street, Leicester.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Joined at Leicester. 8/6/15.
Leicestershire Regiment. 10th (2nd Reserve) Battalion. Attested. Private. 7/6/15.
Embarked. 16/2/16.
Posted 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. Private. 17/2/16.
Joined 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. In the Field. 25/3/16.
Awarded 28 days Field Punishment No.1 for not complying. In the Field. 11/6/16.
Sick to Field Ambulance. In the Field. 25/8/16.
Rejoined Battalion. In the Field. 5/9/16.
6. L.F.A. Infl. con. -?- heel. Admitted. In the Field. 1/10/16.
47 D.R.S. I.C.T. heel. Admitted. In the Field. 2/10/16.
Rejoined Battalion. In the Field. 3/10/16.
Granted Class II Pay. In the Field.
Leave from 12/8/17 to 22/8/17.
Leave from 10/3/18 to 24/3/18.
Posted to 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. 1918.
Joined Battalion. In the Field. 1918.
Killed in Action. Place not stated.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Horace’s surviving service record amounts to a total of nine pages, and these are in very poor condition with much of the hand written information relating to his army service in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into the events that took place during his period of military service.
The War Diary records: 7 Nov-18 - 05.45. Battalion resume attack on RED LINE (running through centre of square 9.15 and 21). Passing through 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT and taking front line Battalion with 1st WILTSHIRE REGIMENT on left. Enemy withdrew. Battalion move up to RED LINE and dig in. Much artillery fire and machine gun fire in new positions. 08.30. 64th Brigade pass through to attack BLUE LINE. 09.00 Battalion Headquarters opened near CHURCH, BACHANT. BACHANT shelled heavily during the day. 20.15. Battalion withdrew to AULNOYE in billets. Casualties other ranks 10 killed in action, 34 wounded in action. Lieutenant V. C. HALES wounded in action.
On Tuesday 3rd December 1918 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL CASUALTIES.” - Signaller H. Brombley, Leicestershire’s, was killed in action on Nov. 7, after serving two years and nine months in France. Parents reside at 26, Southampton-street, Leicester.