Bertram Wilfred Broom

Rank: Pivate

Service Number: 290123

Date of Birth: 1889

Regiment: 11th Bn, Suffolk Regiment

Date of Death: 9 October 1917

Age at death: 29

Cemetery / Memorial: Tyne Cot Memorial

Country: Belgium

Grave / Reference:

Relatives: Son of Arthur and Rebecca Broom. Husband of Maud Daisy Everett (Formerly Broom).

Address: 104 Angel Street, Hadleigh

Bertram Wilfred Broom was born in Ipswich in 1889. The 1891 census report him as a two year old living at home at 8 Celia Street, Ipswich, with his parents and siblings; Arthur William Broom, 35, a Brass Worker, born Stowmarket. Rebecca Broom (nee Cocker), 33, born Ipswich. Alice Maud (12), Ernest Walter (10), Albert William (7), Francis William B (5) and Percy Cyril (3 months).

By the time of the 1901 census the family has grown and are living at 17 Chediston Street, Ipswich. Arthur William Broom, 45, Rebecca, 43, Ernest, 20, a Bricklayer's Labourer, Albert, 17, a Bricklayer's Labourer, Bertram, 12, Percy, 10, Stanley Victor Broom, 8, Edith Lilian Broom, 4 and Evelyn Gladys, 2.

By the time of the 1911 census Bertram was reported as being 22 years old, a house painter and he was living with his older sister and her family at 763 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich; Albert William Fisk, 30, Alice Maud, 32, Bertram W Broom, 22, House Painter, Albert Arthur Fisk, 10, Percy Harold Fisk, 9, Grace Violet Fisk, 8, Evelyn Rose Fisk, 7, Stanley Victor Fisk, 5, Oliver Leonard Fisk, 4, Bertie Clifford Fisk, 1.

In 1915, Bertram married Maud Daisy Battle in Ipswich. Maud was born in 1891 in Bramford, Suffolk. They had 2 daughters; Evelyn I. Broom, born June 1915 in Hadleigh, Suffolk. Sadly, Evelyn died in October 1915. The second daughter was Doris Florence Broom, born 21 February 1917 in Hadleigh, Suffolk.

We are not sure when or if Bertram ever moved to Hadleigh and we are not sure when Bertram enlisted into the Army. But given that both his daughters were born in Hadleigh, it thought that either the family moved to the town in 1915 or Bertram’s wife moved to the town when Bertram joined the Army.

Bertram enlisted into the Suffolk Regiment in Ipswich. He originally joined the 4th territorial battalion of the Suffolks. They landed in France in November 1914 and we know that Bertram was not with them at this time. So at some point he was transferred to the 11th (Cambridge) Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment. They were a New Army battalion formed in Cambridge in September 1914. In May 1915 they had come under command of the 101st Brigade, part of the 34th Division. They landed at Boulogne on 9 January 1916.

Bertram’s Medal Index Card tells us that he did not deploy overseas before 1916.

These are Bertram’s actual medals which in 2019 are owned by his grandson.

Bertram was killed by enemy gun fire and his body was lost and never found. His possessions were sent home and this included his silver matchbox holder which was engraved with his initials.

Bertram is remembered on the Hadleigh and the Ipswich war memorials. He is also remembered on the Tyne Cot memorial wall which lists the missing from the third battle of Ypres.

In 1919, Bertram’s widow, Maud Daisy, married her late husband’s colleague Horace Everett and they lived the rest of their lives at 104 Angel Street, Hadleigh. Bertram’s daughter, Doris Florence Broom married Leslie George Whatling in the 4th quarter of 1937 and they had a son called Michael.

Michael Whatling now owns a collection of artefacts belonging to Bertram including his medals and memorial plaque. Michael made a pilgrimage to Tyne Cot in Belgium to find Bertram’s name on the wall and he took the silver matchbox holder with him.

Photo 1915 - Bertram’s wife Maud sitting with baby Evelyn, Maud’s mother also sitting and her younger sister Florence. Bertram wearing a Lance Corporal’s stripe.

While Bertram was with the battalion they were involved in the following battles;

1916

The Battle of Albert* including the capture of Scots and Sausage Redoubts

The Battle of Bazentin Ridge*

The Battle of Pozieres Ridge*

* the battles marked * are phases of the Battles of the Somme 1916

1917

The First Battle of the Scarpe**

The Second Battle of the Scarpe**

The Battle of Arleux**

** the battles marked ** are phases of the Arras Offensive

The fighting at Hargicourt (August)

The battalion had been in the Péronne area of northern France prior to being sent north to Flanders in early October to joining the fighting as part of the Third Battle of Ypres. From 8 October were engaged in repairing roads close to the front line. The work was carried out in daylight and under constant enemy fire, as a result there were many casualties. Among those known to be engaged in this work were Bertram and Horace Everett from Hadleigh. Horace like Bertram, had also enlisted in the 4th Suffolks.