Pte. Jack Broadbent
British Army 2/7th Btn., Z Coy. Duke of Wellington's Regiment
from:Wakefield
(d.11th June 1940)
I never met my uncle, Jack Broadbent, because sadly he was killed in action. Jack was serving in Z Company 2/7th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regt. Jack and my aunt had only been married a short time before he was killed. Between 1st and 20th May 1940 the Battalion was located in Blain, France. On 20th May the Battalion was sent to Abbeyville from where they withdrew to Dieppe on 22nd. The Battalion then proceeded to Veules-les Roses where, on 10th June 1940, it was under intense mortar and machine gun fire. Jack was identified as being amongst several soldiers who died during this offensive.
My dad said he was killed in a rear guard action. Jack is buried in Ste. Marie Cemetery Le Havre.
Jack's wife Ivy remarried and the government took her war widows pension off her. This began a long battle with parliament to change the law so that war widows if they remarry will still get the war widows pension. She fought tirelessly and eventually after nearly 50 years she got it changed with the War Widows Association. Little did Jack know he would become famous - his picture was in the local and daily papers and mentioned in Parliament. My Aunt also so disgusted with the whole thing that she sent Jack's war medals back to Buckingham Palace, although she eventually got them back. I am so proud of them both and just wanted them remembered for how brave they were.
