William George's Story.
EARLY LIFE
William George Broadhurst was born in 1896 and baptised on 8 May 1898 at St Peter's Church, Prestbury, the son of Alice (née Ward) and William George Broadhurst, a thrashing machine driver of Yew Tree Farm, Newton, near Adlington, Cheshire. In 1901, four-year-old William was living in Newton with his parents and siblings Sarah (17), Edith (12), Vernon (9), John Thomas (8), Elizabeth (7), Ethel (6), Arnold (3), James Samuel (2) and three-week-old baby Ada.
The family was still living in Newton in 1911 but William junior was absent from home on census night and his whereabouts is not known.
WW1 SERVICE
William enlisted in Wilmslow, joining first the Monmouthshire Regiment with service number 4233 and later being transferred to the South Wales Borderers.
The death of Private Broadhurst was reported in the Macclesfield Advertiser on 23 March 1917:
PRIVATE W G BROADHURST, OF NEWTON (KILLED) - Mr and Mrs W G Broadhurst, of Yew Tree Farm, Newton, near Adlington, have received the sad news of the death in action on February 18th of their son, Private William George Broadhurst, SWB. Deceased, who was 20 years of age, had been at the front but a few months. He enlisted in the Monmouthshire Regiment, but was transferred to the South Wales Borderers whilst in training at Park Hall Camp, Oswestry. Deceased was at one time a member of the Adlington Church Choir, together with two other brothers, who are serving in the Army. He was of a very cheerful disposition and the sad news will be felt by a large circle of friends. A memorial service was held at Woodford Church last Sunday, the 18th.
COMMEMORATION
Private William Broadhurst has no known grave and is commemorated on Panel Ref. Pier and Face 4 A of the Thiepval Memorial in France. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Private William Broadhurst.
Locally, Private William Broadhurst is commemorated on the war memorials at St Peter's Church, Prestbury, Cheshire and Christ Church, Woodford, Cheshire.
NOTES
Brother of Vernon Broadhurst, who served as Sergeant 129898 with the Royal Engineers; John Thomas Broadhurst, who served as Private 45741 with the 8th Cheshire Regiment; Arnold Broadhurst, who served as Private 59764 with the Northumberland Fusiliers; and James Samuel Broadhurst, who served as Trooper 12009 with the Queen's Own Hussars.
Another Macclesfield man named William Charles Broadhurst served with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and died of pneumonia in Gibraltar on 26th June 1918.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births
Diocese of Chester Parish Baptisms (Find My Past): St Peter's Church, Prestbury
Census (England & Wales): 1891, 1901, 1911
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Advertiser: 23 March 1917
Absent Voters' List (Find My Past): Knutsford Division
Research by Rosie Rowley, Macclesfield.