People Australia

John Allan Broadbent, n.d. photographer unknown

from Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

JOHN ALLAN BROADBENT was born in Sydney on 6th October, 1890, his parents being Mr. Joseph Robert Broadbent and Mrs. Evelyn Broadbent. He was educated at the Burwood Public School, and entered the Bank’s service at the Head Office on 21 st June, 1910.

He enlisted in the A.I.F, on 3rd April, 1915, and embarked for active service in the following June, when he was promoted to sergeant. He served with the original 20th Battalion in Egypt, Gallipoli and France, except during the time he was doing training battalion duty or was in hospital with wounds. While on Gallipoli in October, 1915, he was promoted to second lieutenant; received promotion to first-lieutenant while in France in the following March, and to captain on 18th October, 1916.

John Allan Broadbent was twice mentioned in despatches, and was awarded the Military Cross on 26th July, 1916, for gallant conduct at the Battle of Pozieres, where he maintained and defended against attack a position taken up by a bombing party of which he was in charge, and of which he was the only survivor when reinforcements arrived. He returned to Australia in August, 1919.