Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 51676 Edward Hulme Broster

Age: 21
From: Heswall
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
D.O.W Saturday 4th August 1917
Commemorated at: Huts Cem, Dickebusch
Panel Ref: I.C.8

Edward Hulme Broster was born in the June quarter of 1896 at Heswall, Cheshire and was baptised on 14^th June 1896 at Heswall. He was the son of William Broster and his wife Harriet Ellen (nee Cropper), of The Village, Heswall, Cheshire. His parents married at St Peter's Church, Heswall in 1888.

His father died in the December quarter of 1897, aged 37.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at The Village Heswall. Widowed mother Harriet E. is 37 years of age, a bread baker and grocers shopkeeper born in Liverpool, her children were all born in Heswall and are listed as; Mary 12, William C. 9, Annie 7, Edward H. 4, and servants James W. Limbert 20 bread baker and Ethel Milburn 14 domestic.

The 1911 Census shows the family are still living at The Village, Heswall. His mother, Harriet Ellen, is a widow aged 47, born 1864, occupation grocer and baker. She advised that she had been married for twenty three years and had five children of which one had died. She has her four surviving children living in the property; Mary is aged 22, born 1889 and assisting in the business, William aged 19, born 1892 occupation clerk, Annie aged 17, born 1894 and Edward aged 14 are also assisting in the business. Also living with the family is niece Mary Hutchinson aged 14, born 1897 in Lincolnshire.

His mother appealed in the Liverpool Echo on 12th April 1916 for assistance with her business:

"Mother short of staff with 2 sons at the front Baker, to assist with van; Scotch furnace oven. Hr. Broster Village Stores, Heswall"

Edward enlisted in Neston, Cheshire as Rifleman 5190 joining the 6th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment (Liverpool Rifles). He embarked from Folkestone-Boulogne on 27th July 1916 reaching the 24th Infantry Base Depot on 29th July 1916 and proceeded to the 17th Battalion K.L.R. on 06th August 1916, and was posted from 05th September 1916 to 17th Battalion K.L.R. as Private No 51676.

He died of wounds at 96th Field Ambulance on the 04th August 1917, aged 21, during the Third Battle of Ypres.

He now rests at Huts Cemetery, Dikkebusch, Belgium.

This cemetery takes its name from a line of huts strung along the road from Dickebusch (now Dikkebus) to Brandhoek, which were used by field ambulances during the 1917 Allied offensive on this front. Plots I to X and XII to XIV were filled between July and November 1917. Plots XV and XI followed. Nearly two-thirds of the burials are of gunners as many artillery positions existed nearby.

The cemetery was closed in April 1918 when the German advance (the Battle of the Lys) brought the front line very close. The advance was finally halted on the eastern side of the village, following fierce fighting at Dickebusch Lake, on 8 May.

There are now 1,094 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His death was reported in the Birkenhead News on 18th August 1917:

Mrs H. E. Broster, The Village, Heswall, received word from the war office on Monday confirming the letter from the chaplain of the King's Liverpool Regiment announcing the death from wounds of her only surviving and youngest son Private Edward Hulme Broster. Private Broster, who joined the Liverpool Pals, was wounded on the 3rd inst. and died on the 4th inst. His only brother, Private W. C. Broster, who won the D.C.M. in 1915 and M.M in 1916, died on the 26th of September 1916 from wounds. A letter from Second Lieutenant Walters contains the following:- "It is with the greatest regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son, 15676 Private E. H. Broster. He was wounded by the explosion of a shell on August 3rd, and we have since received official information that he has died of his wounds. It has come as a great shock to us all here, and he was a splendid fellow and was universally liked and respected by his officers and fellow comrades. I must close hoping you will accept the sympathy of myself and the other officers." Private E. H. Broster before joining up was in the business with his mother. He was an ardent sportsman and staff-sergeant in the Heswall Church Lads' Brigade. He will be greatly missed, and much sympathy is expressed to Mrs Broster and her daughters in the double lost they have sustained.

Also in the Chester Chronicle 18th August 1917 - Quotes the same letter as the Birkenhead News but references that it is signed "Yours sincerely F. B. Walker Second Lieutenant".

The deceased soldier was evidently highly esteemed in his battalion. In a letter from Corporal Draper the writer says: "We shall miss him very much in the company. He was much appreciated and always did his duty in whatever direction." Private E. H. Broster, who was educated at Heswall C.E. Schools and was afterwards in business at home, joining the King's Liverpool Regiment in April 1916, and being claimed by his brother was subsequently drafted to the "Pals" Battalion. Prior to joining the forces he was staff-sergeant in the C.L.B. at Heswall, also a member of the Volunteer Training Corps. Deepest sympathy is felt for Mrs Broster and family in this their second sad bereavement of the war. The deceased's brother William Cropper Broster D.C.M. M.M., died of wounds on September 26th 1916.

His mother placed her gratitude in the Liverpool Echo on 23rd August 1917:

CONDOLENCE

Mrs H. E. Broster wishes to thank the many and kind friends who expressed sympathy with her in the loss of her dear son, Edward Hulme Boster, The Village, Heswall.

His death also featured in the Chester Chronicle of 23rd September 1917

CASUALTIES

Broster (Liverpool Regiment) 51676 (died of wounds).

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Harriet E.

Probate: BROSTER Edward Hulme of the Village, Heswall, near Birkenhead, Private in the 17^th Liverpool Regiment died 04^th August 1917 at 96 Field Ambulance France. Administration (with will) Chester 10 November to Harriet Ellen Broster widow. Effects £161, 18s. 1d.

His brother William joined the 6th Battalion K.L.R. and was awarded the D.C.M., news of which was reported in the Birkenhead News on 24th April 1915:

We have pleasure in recording the news that the Distinguished Conduct Medal has been awarded to a gallant Heswall man. Lance-Corporal W. C. Broster, of the 6th Liverpool's. The act of bravery which the authorities have so signally recognised was performed on March 20th when Lance Corporal Broster rescued a wounded soldier who was lying behind a hedge some distance in front of the trenches. This necessitated cutting a way through the hedge, which took 15-minutes to accomplish under heavy fire. Lance Corporal Broster, who is 23 years of age, was in the employee of the Liverpool Corporation Tramways office for 9 years. He joined the 6th Liverpool's on September 1. His home is at Heswall, he is a keen sportsman being prior to the war a member of the the Heswall Football Club and Secretary of the Heswall and District Homing Society. He was also a staff-sergeant Church Lads' Brigade.

Edward's loss was not the only one that the family had to endure as his brother William Cropper Broster, who won the DCM and MM, died of wounds on the 26th of September 1916, aged 24. He was serving with D Company of the 1/6th king's Liverpool Regiment as Corporal 2061.

He now rests at Longueval Road Cemetery, France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"HE HATH DONE WHAT HE COULD"

Both Edward and William are commemorated on the following Memorials:

Heswall Civic Memorial

St Peter's Church, Heswall

His mother died in the March quarter of 1940, aged 76.

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

Grateful thanks are extended to Kevin Shannon the author of the book The Liverpool Rifles for providing details of Joseph's service with the 6th Rifles.

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