Percy Broster was born in 1889 at Oswestry. He was the youngest of 9 children born to John and Jane Broster.  His father was a tin smith. In 1891 they were living at 5 Kent Place on Roft Street, Oswestry. His father died in 1892 and some time after they moved to 22 Stewart Road where his mother Jane took in boarders. His mother died in 1909 and his sister, Edith seems to have taken over running the house and continued to take in boarders – Percy lived there with her. He worked as a cabinet maker employed by Messrs Jones Son and Gibbs in Oswestry. Also boarding with Percy and sister at the time of the war was Private 6679 L (Llewellyn) Roberts. Percy was a prominent member of the United Football Club and at one time a member of the Church Lads Brigade and of the Oswestry Church Club.

Some time after 1911 Percy moved to live in Pendleton, Manchester. There he met Ada Illingworth – they would marry at Salford in  1914, just after Percy had joined up. He enlisted at the outbreak of war, was posted to 7 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and went over to France on 28 September 1915 with the battalion. He was KIA on 14 July 1916 at Bazentin Ridge during the Somme Offensive. His body was not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. He is also commemorated on the war memorials at Holy Trinity Church and St Oswald’s in Oswestry.

One of his elder brothers, Bertie, also served. He was a postman who lived with his wife and 2 children at 38 Jennings Road, Oswestry. He was a former regular soldier and a reservist who was mobilised on the outbreak of war. He served in 8 Bn KSLI in France and then in Salonika. In 1916 he was reported as having died of enteric fever on 10 June, this proved to be incorrect. Bertie survived the war.

KIA Same day and action

Private 19737 George F (Frederick) Jones, 7 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. 14 July 1916. Thiepval Memorial (unknown)

Private 14729 E. Davies. 7 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. KIA 14 July 1916, Thiepval Memorial (unknown)

Private 19729 Leonard Probert, 7 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. 17 July 1916, Thiepval Memorial (unknown)

Died at home from wounds received at Bazentin Ridge  Private 15559 Thomas Mills, 7 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. 6 March 1918. Oswestry General Cemetery

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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