People Australia

William Burleigh Broadbent, n.d. photographer unknown

from Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

WILLIAM BURLEIGH BROADBENT was born at Ballarat, Vic., on 25th February, 1891. His father was the late W. J. Broadbent, formerly manager of the Corowa Branch of the Bank of New South Wales. He was educated at Ballarat and entered the service of the Bank on 11th June, 1909, at the Fitzroy Branch. In 1910 he was transferred to Wangaratta, and in 1911 to Lockhart, and later in the same year to Brocklesby as assistant. In that capacity he proceeded to Culcairn in 1912, and in 1913 to Mount Gambier, from which branch he enlisted on 23rd May, 1916. As gunner he sailed with the 11th Reinforcements of the 6th Brigade Field Artillery (Regimental No. 30680).

On 13th February, 1918, he was promoted to the rank of bombardier and received his corporal’s stripes three months later. When the great final advance of the Australians began in August, Corporal Broadbent had been sent to a Cadet Training School in England, where he was gazetted as first lieutenant on 3rd January, 1919.