Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the nurse child of George Burrows an agricultural labourer, born 1852 in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire and his wife Ann Elizabeth Burrows (nee Stimson, married in the 2nd quarter of 1875 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district), born 1850 in Scalford, Leicestershire. William Broom was born in the 3rd quarter of 1888 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, in April 1891 he was residing as a nurse child at Clay Field Lodge, Melton Road, Scalford. In March 1901 William was a scholar and was residing as a visitor at Melton Road, Scalford, together with George Burrows, a farm manager and his wife Elizabeth. In April 1911 William was employed as a quarry man and was residing in the family home at Clay Field Lodge, Melton Road, Scalford, together with his adoptive parents, George Burrows, now a farm bailiff and his wife Elizabeth, and their children, John William Burrows, born 1883 in North Kilworth, Leicestershire and Louisa Burrows, born 1885 in Scalford. William first entered the theatre of war on the 9th September 1915 in France, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals.
The War Diary records: 30 Jun-16 – 11.15pm. Battalion arrived in BONTE REDOUBT and SUNKEN ROAD and took over Headquarters at 11.15pm.
The War Diary records: 1 Jul-16 – 7.25am. “C” Company passed. 7.25am. Wire to “D” Company at 7.45am ordering up SOUTH AVENUE to Junction with Battalion Headquarters.
7.52am. Major KING reported “C” Company all in SURREY AVENUE 7.52am. Captain HEATHCOCK arrived at Headquarters at 8.15am. “D” Company then having position in SOUTH AVENUE. At 8.20am it was reported that WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT had taken prisoners. “D” Company ordered up SURREY AVENUE at 8.20am. This Company passed Headquarters a few minutes later.
8.26am. Last of WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT gone over. “C” Company in front line. Our aeroplanes flying low giving light signals to artillery. Wood on left being heavily shelled. Forward guns in action.
8.30am. “A” Company report casualties nil.
8.35am. “A” and “B” Companies ordered to remain in BONTE until 2nd Zero hour of which earliest possible notice will be given. Officers Commanding ordered to then keep in touch with 7th YORKSHIRE REGIMENT and move into KINGSTON ROAD and hold front line with one platoon and 2 Lewis guns and await further instructions. Ordered to acknowledge and report all moves. All WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT out and EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT hold front line, 1 platoon and 2 Lewis guns. Trench Mortar carrying party in front line.
9.00am. “D” Company in SURREY STREET. 2 platoons “C” Company in front line.
9.50am. First batch of wounded (WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT) brought down.
10.06am. YORKSHIRE REGIMENT report first Company has attacked and is now in front of FRICOURT.
10.15am. “A” Company ordered up in support of YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. Lewis gun officer reports impossible to post gun on lip of crater so long as German machine guns remain active. He has mounted a gun on parapet.
10.44am. WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT Headquarters now in KONIG TRENCH. The Battalion on their left hung up in DARK TRENCH.
11.00am. 1 Officer and 25 other ranks detailed from “B” Company to carry bombs to WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT dump at junction of left TANGIER front line.
11.15am. From Officer Commanding “B” Company. I have sent “A” Company forward to support YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. Guides say one Company went over without orders and were cut off by our own rifle fire. This is only a rumour. I have moved “B” Company towards RUNDEL AVENUE ready to go up, awaiting orders. 2nd Lieutenant THOMAS and 2 men left trench at PURFLEET to get in touch with WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT report.
11.55am. “A” Company in position in KINGSTON ROAD, Casualties nil.
12.10pm. 2nd Lieutenant G. V. THOMAS brought in wounded. His servant got across and found no WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT in front trench. He helped his master back on his return.
12.15pm. Following messages received at Battalion Headquarters from Major G. E. KING:- Have sent out Lance Corporal FROST and 2 men to get in touch with WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT and gain all information. Corporal WRIGHT’s patrol not yet returned.
1.15pm. Battalion ordered to move to attack in support of WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT at second Zero hour, which was announced as 2.30pm. “B” Company ordered to move at once to SURREY ROAD. Left of Company on DORSET DRIVE. Ready to move from there at 2.30pm.
1.45pm. Written orders received as follows:-
“Zero for second phase of assault is at 2.30pm. aaa. LAKE, less one Company, will advance in support of LADY and will gain touch with SLAY on left. One Company of LAKE will support LAMB aaa. First objective of LAKE is from RED COTTAGE to LONELY COPSE inclusive. LAMP will move one Company to SURREY from SUNKEN ROAD.” Battalion Headquarters moved immediately on receipt of above message to SURREY ROAD.
2.33pm. “C” and “D” Companies advanced over the parapet to attack towards RED COTTAGE but owing to heavy casualties from machine gun fire it was found impossible to reach enemy front line, and “B” Company did not advance beyond our front line.
3.00pm. Two Companies of 6th DORSET REGIMENT arrived in SURREY STREET.
3.15pm. Following wire sent to 50th Brigade:- “Have had possibly 150 casualties out of first six platoons going over, WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT appear all to have come back aaa. Think you can safely shell GERMAN front trench to opposite PURFLEET aaa. Am moving back to left of PURFLEET to gain touch with 63rd Brigade. One cause of failure was the short notice aaa. Major KING had only just time to get to front line by Zero, and I had not then reached the Reserve Company aaa. There was only a ladder here and there so men started out in file. The whole GERMAN trench opposite us appeared to be occupied by the enemy. Some WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT Officers who have come back admit this is probable aaa. Have explored our front trench 300 yards to left of PURFLEET without touching 63rd Brigade. Have two Companies in front line extending beyond PURFLEET 100 yards aaa. One Company in DORSET DRIVE. One Company DORSET REGIMENT in SURREY STREET.”
4.20pm. Officer Commanding “A” Company wired. “Am now in front line awaiting orders to advance. The Commanding Officer 7th YORKSHIRE REGIMENT has informed Brigade that a further advance is impossible without another bombardment. Killed 2nd Lieutenant A. K. KIPPAX.”
5.00pm. Following wire sent to “C” Company. “You must get in touch with Battalion on your right at once aaa. They are in our front line on right of TAMBOUR. Officer Commanding 7th EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT”
5.05pm. The Commanding Officer wired as follows:- to Major KING. “We are in touch with Brigade, but have received no orders yet, and am ordered to stay near telephone. Please dig out trench where possible, and do all you can to re-organise trench before dark.”
5.25pm. Brigade informed that up to 5.00pm. Casualties as follows:-
MISSING.
Captain N. B. RUTLEDGE, “C” Company.
2nd Lieutenant F. THORNTON, “C” Company.
2nd Lieutenant C. W. PERRY, “C” Company.
OTHER RANKS.
Estimated killed, wounded and missing 178.
5.40pm. Officer Commanding “B” Company ordered to move his Company along SURREY ROAD till in touch with Company of DORSET REGIMENT, who were there.
5.45pm. Following wire sent to Brigade:- “Rations and water carts to bottom of SUNKEN ROAD tonight. Can you wire time we may expect.”
6.35pm. The Officer in charge of the 10th WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT was wired as follows:- “Please send statement of Officers and men in your Regiment at present in SURREY STREET.” aaa. The reply received stated that the number was 3 Officers and 124 men.
6.40pm. Brigade advised Battalion Headquarters that rations and water carts would arrive at QUEENS REDOUBT about 10.30pm.
7.30pm. Following order sent to “C,” “B” and “D” Companies by Battalion orderly:- “B” and “D” Companies will be relieved about 11.30 tonight by “B” Company, thus giving you time to make careful search for wounded and dead. They will come back to SURREY STREET. The front to be held is from PURFLEET to TAMBOUR, both inclusive, but touch must be kept with Battalion on left by a system of patrols.”
8.45pm. Brigade notified that there was a considerable gap between the right of TAMBOUR, which was held by the Battalion, and the machine gun at head of ROYAL AVENUE, and again a wider gap before reaching 7th YORKSHIRE REGIMENT.
9.45pm. Brigade informed that Battalion did not require any men.
10.30pm. Two parties of GERMAN PRISONERS brought in – first party of 5 and second of 9. Only one could speak English. They belonged to the LANDSTURM, and some of their number were machine gunners. Their papers were collected at Headquarters, and prisoners, under escort, were marched to Brigade Headquarters. Papers found in their possession were also forwarded to Brigade Headquarters.
10.45pm. Patrols went out in front of GERMAN trench, to report on enemy’s disposition.
11.00pm. Wire received from Brigade stating that 50th Brigade would be relieved that night.
10.55pm. Officer Commanding “A” Company asked to send stretcher bearers to KING’S AVENUE where TAMBOUR joined.
11.20pm. The Commanding Officer reported to Brigade that Lieutenant MARSDEN (10th WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT) was wounded. He reported to Headquarters of this Battalion. He had been lying in “No Man’s Land” since morning and returned to our lines at dusk.
11.40pm. Officers Commanding “C” and “D” Companies were ordered to make a dump of all bombs in excess of 2 per man and 40 per squad.
12.00 Midnight. Patrols reported they had been to GERMAN trench, and it was apparently unoccupied. No firing took place from front line, but machine guns were firing from close support.
The War Diary records: 2 Jul-16 – 5.30am. Battalion was relieved by SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT. Relief complete about 5.30am.
Battalion marched back to camp at VILLE.
Battalion in rest.
Casualties.
OFFICERS KILLED:-
Captain RUTLEDGE.
2nd Lieutenant F. THORNTON.
2nd Lieutenant C. W. PERRY.
2nd Lieutenant A. H. KIPPAX.
OFFICERS WOUNDED:-
2nd Lieutenant G. V. THOMAS.
OTHER RANKS:
KILLED – 29.
WOUNDED – 72.
MISSING – 17.
TOTAL 118.
On Friday July 21st 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS.” – SCALFORD. – KILLED AT THE FRONT. – Information has been received by Mr. G. Burrows, Scalford Hall Farm, that his adopted son, Pte. W. Broom, has been killed at the front. Deceased who joined at the commencement of the war was a bright and well conducted young man. Much sympathy is expressed for his friends in their bereavement. Official information has also been received that Ptes, A. Steane, H. Hodson, I. Carling and R. Andrew, have been wounded, but to what extent is not known.