Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Henry Broughton a slater, born 1851 in Leicester and his wife Elizabeth Broughton (nee Garner, married in the 2nd quarter of 1867 in the Leicester district), born 1850 in Leicester. Frank was born in the 1st quarter of 1873 in Leicester, his siblings were William Henry, born 1871 and Martha, born 1879, both his siblings were born in Leicester, in April 1881 the family home was at 56, Mount Street, Leicester. In April 1891 Frank was absent from the family home at London Street, Evington, Leicester, residing there was his father, a slater, his mother and siblings, Martha, a schoolgirl and Charles, a schoolboy, born 1882 in Leicester, Frank was serving as a Private with the Leicestershire Regiment and was stationed at Her Majesty’s Barracks, Saffron Lane, Glen Parva, Leics. On the 3rd August 1901 Frank married Sarah Ann Toone at St. Barnabas’s Church, Leicester, the officiant being E. J. Mortimer, Assistant Curate. In April 1911 Frank’s wife Sarah Ann, a hosiery trade worker, born 1882 in Leicester was residing in the family home at 35, Rollestone Street, North Evington, Leicester, together with their children, Martha Florence, born 12th February 1904, Charles, born 12th July1905, Alfred, born 27th January 1908 and John, born 25th January 1909, all the children were born in North East Leicester, two further children were born after the 1911 census, Frank, born 13th October 1913 and William George, born 21st February 1915, both children were born in North West Leicester.
Frank attested into the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Militia) to serve an engagement of 6 years on the 28th August 1890 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as St. Margaret’s, Leicester, his age as 17 years and 10 months and his trade or calling as shoe finisher, and his current employer as Mr. Mellors of Leicester. He gave his present address as 30, London Street, New Evington, Leicester, and confirmed that he was unmarried. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5¾ inches in height, weighed 100 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 33 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was light brown and he had blue eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Militia service on the 28th August 1890 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 3794 on the 28/8/1890. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Militia) and commenced drill training on the 28/8/1890. Discharged into the Regular Army (Leicestershire Regiment) on the 6/2/1891. Frank attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve on the 4th February 1891 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as St. Margaret’s, Leicester, his age as 18 years and 2 months and his trade or calling as shoe finisher. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He stated that he was still serving with the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Militia). He gave his father Henry, mother Elizabeth of 30, London Street, Leicester, older brother William Henry, Durham Light Infantry, younger brother Charles and sister’s Martha and Sarah Ann as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5½ inches in height, weighed 107 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 33½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was fair and he had blue eyes, He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Army service on the 4th February 1891 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 2959 on the 4/2/1891. Posted to the Leicestershire Regiment on the 4/2/1891. Deserted and struck off strength on the 11/4/1891. Rejoined from desertion, in confinement awaiting trial on the 5/5/1891. Tried and convicted of Desertion and Making away with his necessaries on the 13/5/1891. All former service forfeited on conviction of Desertion. Service towards limited engagement reckons from 13/5/1891. In Prison on the 13/5/1891. Released from Prison on the 23/6/1891. Returned to duty as Private on the 24/6/1891. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 1/7/1891. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 17/1/1893. Awarded the 3rd Class Army Certificate of Education on the 26/2/1895. Elected to come under the new messing rules, Special Army act of 2nd April 1893 on the 1/5/1898. Granted 1 penny Good Conduct Pay on the 27/5/1899. Transferred to the Army Reserve on the 15/6/1899. Recalled to the Army service under special army order on 11th November 1899 on the 13/11/1899. Transferred to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 22/11/1899. Transferred to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 26/11/1899. Transferred to the Depot on the 9/8/00. Re – Transferred to the Army reserve on the 23/8/02. Paid £5.00 War Gratuity under Army Order 5 of 1901 on the 14/10/02. Transferred to Section “B” Army Reserve on the 12/5/03. A summary of his service records: Home Service Deserted. Home Service, 13/5/1891 – 17/1/1893, 1 year 250 days. West Indies, 18/1/1893 – 22/12/1895, 2 years 339 days. South Africa, 23/12/1895 – 9/6/1899, 3 years 169 days. Home Service, 10/6/1899 – 25/11/1899, 160 days. South Africa, 26/11/1899 – 26/8/00, 274 days. Home Service, 27/8/00 – 12/5/03, 2 years 259 days. Total service, 12 years. Frank attested into the Army Reserve (Special Reservists) on a One Year’s Service engagement on the 31st August 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as St. Margaret’s, Leicester, his age as 41 and his trade or calling as slater. He gave his wife Sarah Broughton of 11, Sandacre Street, Leicester as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 8 inches in height, weighed 128 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33½ and 35½ inches. His hair colour was light brown and he had blue eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Army service on the 31st August 1914 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 12132 on the 31/8/14. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment for recruit training on the 31/8/14. Killed in action in the field on the 25/1/15. A summary of his service records, Home Service, 31/8/14 – 11/10/14, 42 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 12/10/14 – 25/1/15, 106 days. Total service 148 days. Frank was awarded the 1914 Star, British and Victory medals. Frank’s surviving service documents are in a very 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: 25 Jan-15 - At 7.00am no change. At 7.30am German shelling RUE DU BOIS and advanced trenches. At 9.45am heavy firing on the left, some firing on my front, C Coy in houses, A and D Coys in trenches. At 10.07am all former firing on my left reported to be enemy’s fire. At 10.25 received information from Brigade, prisoner reports attack contemplated against this part of British front. BETHUNE shelled this morning. At 11.20am at present all quiet, communication with left Battn (SHERWOOD FORESTERS) broken down. Used orderly who returns 1.00pm informed that Germans have been pouring rapid fire, shells, bombs in their right section, this activity has never occurred before. Germans did not show themselves. At 1.26pm firing near my left has ceased. At 5.15pm Orderly again returns from left Battn who report all quiet. At 5.45pm telephone communication again established. At 10.00pm all quiet. Continue to improve barricade on left and build breast work, also continue loop holing houses.
On Saturday February 20th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – Pte. F. Broughton of 2nd Leicesters, was killed in action at a place not stated, on January 25th. He had served twelve years abroad, and had rejoined after the completion of his time as a reservist. His home was at 11, Sandacre Street, Leicester.
On Saturday February 27th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – THE BRIDGE ROAD ROLL OF HONOUR. News has been received from the War Office of the death of Private Ernest Cox, of the 2nd Leicestershire Regt., who is reported to have been killed in action on Feb. 6th. He was an old Bridge Road Boy, and a reservist. Writing to his old school a few weeks ago he said; “I regret that so many of our old boys have fallen, but the cause is a good one, and I go to the front with a good heart.” Private Frank Broughton, and old boy of the same regiment, has also fallen.