Stephen Broome

Stephen Broome was the son of Walter and Harriet Broome (nee Fearn). Walter Broome was born in Eakring, Nottinghamshire, (birth registered 1872 J/F/M Southwell), the son of Stephen and Mary Broome. Harriet Fearn was born around 1872 (birth registered J/F/M Basford) the daughter of Elijah and Millicent Fearn; she was christened on 9 August 1874 (Allestree Derby). Walter and Harriet were marred in 1894 (J/F/M Basford). Walter Broome completed the 1911 Census with details of his five surviving children who were all at home on the night of the census as well as the names and ages of four children who had died in infancy. At least three more children were born between 1912 and 1915, two of whom did not survive infancy. Walter and Harriet's 12 children were: Harriet Ann b. 19 February 1895 (A/M/J Basford); Millie b. 25 July 1897 (J/A/S Basford); Stephen b. 1899 (A/M/J Basford); Eva (birth registered 1901 J/F/M Basford); Jessie b. 1903 (A/M/J Basford) died 1904 (O/N/D Basford) aged 1 year; Walter b. abt. 1904 died 1905 (J/F/M Basford) aged 9 months; Cephas Elijah b. 22 June 1905 (J/A/S Basford); Lydia b. 1908 (O/N/D Worksop) died 1909 (J/A/S Worksop) aged 9 months buried 10 July 1909 Elmton with Creswell; Kathleen b. 1910 (J/A/S Worksop) d. 1910 (O/N/D Worksop) aged 3 months buried 17 November 1910 Elmton with Creswell; Thora b. 1912 (J/A/S Basford) died 26 July 1914 aged 2; Philip Stanley b. 1913 d. 29 August 1914 (J/A/S Basford) aged 10 months and Theresa Doreen b. 21 June 1915 (J/A/S Basford). (All the children apart from Lydia and Kathleen were born in Newthorpe, Nottinghamshire.) However, when Walter completed a list of Stephen's surviving blood relatives for the army in 1919 he named another daughter, Grace (24), although no birth record - or other record - has yet been found for a child of this name and it seems likely that this was Harriet Ann who would have been the right age and would probably have still been living at home as she did not marry until the following year. In 1901 Walter (29) a coal miner, and Harriet (27) were living at Newthorpe, Greasley, with their four children, Harriet Ann (6), Millie (3), Stephen (2) and Eva (1 month). Four children, Jessie, Walter, Lydia and Kathleen, were born between the 1901 and 1911 Census but did not survive infancy. By 1911 Walter and Harriet had moved to 84 South Street, High Fields, near Doncaster; Walter was still working as a coal miner. All five of their surviving children were in the house on the night of the census: Harriet Ann (16), Millie (13), Stephen (12), Eva (10) and Cephes Elijah (5). Walter and Harriet later had at three more children, Thora b. 1912, Philip b. 1913 and Theresa b. 1915, of whom only Theresa survived infancy. The family had probably moved back to Newthorpe by the time the first of these three children was born in 1912 and they were living at Smith's Cottages, Main Street, Newthorpe, when Stephen enlisted in 1918. Main Street continued to be the family home in at least the early years after the war. Walter Broome died in 1935 aged 63 (death registered May Basford) and Harriet Broome died in 1945 aged 71 (death registered June Basford). Of Stephen's surviving siblings: Harriet Ann married John E Mason in 1920 (J/F/M Basford) and died at the age of 85 in 1980 (death registered Mansfield). Millie married Walter D Clark in 1932 (J/F/M Basford). Walter had previously been married to Lily Riley (1914 A/M/J Belper Derbyshire) and had several children by her, but had died in 1929 aged 37. Millie died aged 78 in 1976 (June Basford). Eva married Thomas R Mullin in 1920 (A/M/J Basford); they had a daughter, Millicent A., who was born in 1920 but died the same year (death registered September Basford). Cephas Elijah appears to have travelled to Canada in the 1930s and again in the 1950s but he died in the UK in 1981 (September Nottingham). Theresa Doreen married Thomas England (b. 20/2/1917) in 1939 (J/F/M Basford). Thomas died in 1995 (June Basford) and Theresa died aged 64 in 1980 (March Nottingham).

He was a miner upon enlistment in 1918.

Residence: Smith's Cottages, Main Street, Newthorpe. He enlisted in Nottingham

He was conscripted 11 February 1918 at the age of 18 years and 344 days and standing 5' 8". He qualified as a signaller on 8 July 1918. He served at home from February 1918 until 2 September 1918 when he embarked for France, disembarking on 5 September 1918 and posted on 27 September. Broome evidently found military discipline hard to accept. In May 1918 he was confined to barracks for leaving a hut untidy and insolence to an NCO. In June 1918 he was deprived of a day's pay for being absent from the 6.15 parade and leaving a parade without permission. During August 1918 he was four times awarded periods of detention by his CO for being absent without a pass (on the final occasion he was in possession of a forged pass). He died less than six weeks after going to the front and was buried in St Hilaire Les Cambrai British Cemetery, Grave Reference: C 4. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

His father was his legatee and Stephen's personal effects -photographs, comb, calendar and wallet - were returned to his father at Main Street, Newthorpe, in March 1919. His father took receipt of Stephen's medals in January 1922. Inscription on family headstone, Greasley churchyard: 'In loving memory of Gunner Stephen (Steve) Broome RGA, eldest son of Harriet and Walter Broome of Newthorpe, who was reported killed Oct. 23rd 1918 and buried near Cambrai, France, in his 20th year. Greater love hath no man than this, that he gave his life for his friends. Also Thora, died July 26th 1914 aged 2 years and Philip Stanley, died Aug. 29th 1914 aged 10 months. Sister and brother of the above. 'He shall gather the lambs in his arms. Also of Joseph Fearn of Newthorpe, died June 9th 1903 aged 35 years, uncle of the above.'