Private Frank Broadbent
22349 11th East Lancashire Regiment
Killed in Action 1st September 1917, aged 34
Lived at 29 Bassnett Street
Buried in La Targette British Cemetery, France - I.H.17
St Peters Memorial, Burnley
Burnley Express 8th September 1917 - 8th September 1917

Frank Broadbent was born in Ramsbottom the son of John & Mary Elizabeth Broadbent. He enlisted in Burnley as Private 22349 in the 11th Battalion, of the East Lancashire Regiment (Accrington Pals)

Pal Breaks The News. St Peter’s Men’s Society Loss. (Burnley Express 8/9/1917 )

Mrs Broadbent of 29 Basnett St, Burnley, with whom much sympathy is felt, on Thursday received a letter, dated September 2nd, from her eldest son’s chum in the Army stating that her son had been killed in action. Private 22349, East Lancashire Regt., was of a genial cheery temperament, and was well known and as highly respected in the district. He was 34 years of age. Joining the army on May 4th 1916 he went out on August 25th following. While serving he was slightly wounded and suffered from trench feet and septic poisoning, besides rheumatism. Previous to entering the army he was a weaver employed at Heasandford Mill. He was associated with St Peter’s, and a member of the committee of the Church of England’s Men’s Society, and a good worker. Like his brother, who is in the Royal Engineers, and was over on leave a fortnight ago, he was on St Peter’s roll of honour.
His chum, Sep. Aspden, wrote as follows;-
“ Dear Mrs Broadbent, - I am sorry to have to convey the sad and awful, news to you, as I have been your son’s nearest friend. We were trained together, and came out together. Frank came out from the base and and joined us again the night before last, and went up the trenches, after being away from us for a few months after being wounded near the eye. I was told the news this morning that Frank met his death after only being in the trenches a few hours, and I went to look at him behind the lines, and it touched me when I saw him, for we had been together the day before, and he said he wished we both had our leave together as we were expecting to be on leave any day, so as to see his parents. It will soothe you a little to tell you that Frank died doing his duty, and that he is being buried in a nice registered grave behind our lines.”

The War Diary for the 11th Battalion states “Front Line Acheville Sector.
28th August 1917 Relieved the 13th Bn York and Lancs regiment in the line.
31st August Sub-Scetion, holding the same frontage as previously. Total casualties were 1 OR killed and 4 OR wounded.
Notes.
Burnley Express In memoriam for Aug 31st 1918 he was remembered by his brother Henry in France.

Neuville St Vaast is a village 6.5 kilometres north of Arras east of the road from Bethune to Arras. La Targette British Cemetery is in the western angle of the crossroads at Aux-Rietz, and behind it is the big French national cemetery of La Targette. The British cemetery, known until recently as Aux-Rietz Military Cemetery, was begun at the end of April 1917 and used by field ambulances and fighting until September 1918.