Pte 17046 William Theophilus Broady

• Age: 30
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 18th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

William Theophilus Broady was born on the 19^th October 1885 in Liverpool and was baptised on the 02nd May 1886 at St Silas C. of E. Church, Pembroke Place, Liverpool. He was the son of William Broady and his wife Josephine (nee Ogden) who were married on the 13th October 1885 at St. Chrysostom's Church, Everton. Widower William was a 33 year old coachman, father Matthew deceased, whilst Josephine was aged 22, father Henry, both of 84 Woodville Terrace. 

William’s first marriage was to Mary Emma Minshall on the 31st March 1873 at Holy Trinity, Walton. Mary sadly died aged 22 in 1874. 

The 1891 Census shows the family are living at 32 Adelaide Street, Liverpool. His father is a 37 year old driver, his mother is 26 years old. They have one child, William T. aged 5 and two boarders. 

The 1901 Census finds the family are still living at 32 Adelaide Road, Liverpool. His father, William is a 49 year old van driver born in Liverpool, his mother is 37 years of age and was also born in Liverpool as were their two children. William T is aged 15 and an oil cake maufacturers clerk whilst his sister, Elsie is 7 years of age.      

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 2 Falkland Rd, Egremont, Wallasey, Cheshire. His Father William is aged 60, born 1851 and has no occupation but was previously a driver and was born in Liverpool. His wife Josephine is aged 47, born 1864 and they have two children. William who is aged 25, gives his occupation as Tobacco Manufacturers Clerk and Elsie aged 17, born 1894 also a Clerk. They were both born in Liverpool. They have four boarders living at the address, John Richard Smith, a Traveller aged 30, Thomas Platt, a Plumber aged 48, Harold Douglas Hill, a Salesman aged 24 and Frank Dickinson previously a Barman aged 20

He enlisted at St Geroge's Hall in Liverpool on 31st August 1914 joining the 18th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 17046. He gave his age as 28 years and his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being 5' 4 and a half inches tall, weighed 138lbs, 35" chest with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England, and his next of kin was his father William, 2 Falkland Road, Egremont. 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

 His service record shows the following: 

22.8.16 - To 96 Field Ambulance, sick with flu. 

24.8.16 - Resumed duty. 

18.10.16 - Posted as Missing. 

He was killed in action on the 18th October 1916, aged 30, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

18^th Bn Diary

18^th October 1916

Attacked German trenches commencing 3.40 am. Relieved by 19^th Manchester Regt. Took up position in support Bn trenches W. of Goose Alley.

Graham Maddocks in his book Liverpool Pals gives an overview of the events of the day:

“At 3.40 am the whistles blew, and the Battalion left its assembly trenches, in three waves, approximately fifty yards apart, and began to cross No Man’s Land. Almost immediately, the German Barrage fell on the first wave and halted its advance, so that the second wave soon caught up with it. This was not a great problem at first, and the two combined waves were able to advance together for about 300 yards, whereupon they encountered the German Grid Trench system. On the right of the advance, it was found that the wire was largely intact, apart from a few gaps, and the Germans bombed and machine gunned these gaps, which prevented any further progress. Elsewhere along the trench, however, the wire was cut and there did not seem to be any serious opposition. Nevertheless, the men hesitated to jump down into the German trenches, and instead, began to filter back across to the safety of their own lines.

By this time the third wave had caught up, as had a fourth wave, which had been detailed to mop up any opposition once the trenches had fallen, and all four waves became intermingled which added to the confusion. No less than three attempts were made to try to get the men to go forward again, but each attempt became markedly less successful than its predecessor, and eventually the attack came to a standstill. Although the British assembly trenches had received the attention of the German guns, the attackers in No Mans Land had not come under any great intensity of fire up until this point.

However, once it became obvious to the Germans that the attack was disorganised and faltering, they began to fire into the massed men from the flanks. It was probably this that finally settled the issue and convinced the Pals that they could no longer gain the enemy trenches, and all four waves, now merged into one, began to retreat to their own lines. The whole attack had been an abysmal failure, and no ground had been gained at all”.               

William was originally posted as Missing.

His name appeared in the Liverpool Daily Post on Wednesday 29 November 1916 listed amongst the Missing:

Missing. 

King’s Liverpool Regiment - Broady, 17046, W. T. (Egremont); Cadwell, 29492 J. J. (Southport); Cromwell, 16706, Corpl. T. L.; Fitzroy, 32741, F; Golothan, 32690, Corpl. W. P. (Chester); Griffiths, 32795, J. W.; Hilditch, 17057, A. J.; Leadsom, 39054, S.; Leighton, 16975, H. N. (Seaforth); Narracott, 17080, F. V.; Orrett, 16984, Sergt. J. S. (Prescot); Poole, 33265, F. (Shrewsbury); Powell, 23167, J.; Rench, 16992, T. F.; Ronson, 16054, G. R.; Speed, 26587, R.; Taylor, 23841, A. 

His death was only confirmed by the War Office on 06th June 1917.

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01^st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Probate was granted on 07th July 1917:- 

BROADY William Theophilus of 2 Falkland Road, Egremont, Wallasey Cheshire private 18th Battalion Liverpool Regiment died 18 October 1916 in France or Belgium on active service Administration (with Will) London 7th July to Josephine Broady (wife of William Broady). Effects £144 19s 8d. 

His personal belongings were sent to his father in June 1917 and contained; 4 letters, 1 photograph, 3 coins and 1 newspaper cutting.

He was remembered by his family in the Liverpool Echo on Friday 19 October 1917 

BROADY- ln loving, but sad, birthday remembrance of Private W. T. Broady (K.L.R.), who was reported missing October 18, 1916, now officially reported killed (on the eve his 31st birthday), the dearly-loved and only son of W. and J. Broady. 

The night was dark, and was far from home; 

And with the morn his angel face shall smile  

Which we have loved long since and lost awhile.  

—2, Falkland-road, Egremont. 

Also in the Liverpool Echo on Saturday 20 October 1917: 

Wallasey Casualties. 

Private W. T. Broady (30), K.L.R., whose parents reside at 2, Falkland-road, and who was posted missing of last year, now officially reported killed. 

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Josephine. 

William is commemorated on Ogden’s Tobacco War Memorial, Anfield, Liverpool.

His father died, aged 70, in 1922, and his mother died, aged 71, in 1935. 

We currently have no further information on William Theophilus Broady, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.