They made the Ultimate Sacrifice

 

Harry Broadley

 

Able Seaman, V26160, RCNVR

 

Born: 14 Nov 1922, Groton, Manchester, England

 

Died: 01 Nov 1944 at sea

 

Book of Remembrance

 

BROADLEY, Harry AB, V26160, RCNVR, killed - 01 Nov 1944, MTB-485 - Son of Hedley and Maria Broadley, St. Catharines, Ontario. Nephew of Mrs. R. Clark, Church, Accrington, Lancashire, England. Buried in Section B, Grave 178, St. James Churchyard Altham, Lancashire, England. AB Broadley was killed off the Dutch Coast when MTB 485 attacked an enemy convoy. The enemy action lasted several hours. AB Broadley died soon after he was wounded.

 

Canadian Sailor Buried at Altham - A Canadian sailor, killed in action recently at sea, was laid to rest yesterday in his grandparents grave at Altham, Churchyard. He was AB Harry Broadley, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Broadley of St. Catherine's Ontario, and formerly of Clayton-le-Moors. he was in his 22nd year and had been in the Royal Canadian Navy three years. He was buried from the home of his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. R. Clark, 265 Dill Hall-lane Church, with whom he has spent his leaves while in this country. He was on leave last Easter after having been wounded in action off Norway, and although not well was among the Easter communicants at All Saints Church. he was also in another accident shortly after D-day, when he was involved in a mine explosion. A few weeks ago he also had another narrow escape when the motor torpedo boat in which he was serving was attached by bombs. His grandfather, Mr. John Broadley, with whom he is buried, was at one time road foreman for Oswaldtwistle District Council.

 

Ships served in:

HMCS STADACONA - Enlisted 24 Jun 1941 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS SASKATOON - Served in SASKATOON 09 Oct 1941 - 08 Sep 1943 as an OS and AB, RCNVR. Rated AB 24 Mar 1942

HMS MANTIS (Royal Navy Coastal Forces Base Lowestoft) - Served in MANTIS 16 Feb 1944 - 14 Mar 1944 as an AB, RCNVR

29TH MTB FLOTILLA - Served in the 29th MTB Flotilla 11 Jun 1944 - 06 Jul 1944 as an AB, RCNVR

MTB 463 - Served in MTB-463 22 Jun 1944 - 07 Jul 1944 as an AB, RCNVR

29TH MTB FLOTILLA - Served in the 29th MTB Flotilla 08 Jul 1944 - 30 Jul 1944 as an AB, RCNVR

MTB-485 - Drafted to MTB-485 31 Jul 1944 as an AB, RCNVR

 

HB01

HB02

HB03

HB04

HB05

(HB01) Portrait of AB Broadley  (HN02-HB03) Certificate of Service - pages 1 and 2  (HB04-HB05) Letter to AB Broadley's mother

 

HB06

HB07

HB08

(HB06) Article on AB Broadley's burial (transcribed below)  (HB07) AB Broadley's headstone  (HB08) Photo taken in 2017 of the house belonging to AB Broadley's Aunt and Uncle where he spent his leave during WW2

 

HB09

HB10

HB11

(HB09-HB11) Photos of AB Broadley's grave in the cemetery where he is buried.

 

** The photos of AB Broadley's headstone, the graveyard and of his aunt's old house were graciously provided by Mr. Sheard Sumner.

 

Webmaster's note:  While AB Broadley was initially buried with his grandfather, it is believed he was later exhumed and re-buried in his own grave.

 

 


 

Second World War Casualty Index

 

HOME PAGE     SHIP INDEX      CONTACT