The Airmen's Stories - P/O J W Broadhurst

John William Broadhurst was born in Plumstead, south east London on 31st March 1917, the son of Sam Broadhurst (1877-1958) and Charlotte Annie Broadhurst (nee Dees 1884-1966).

His father appears in the 1911 census as a 'Fitter (Government Dockyard)' and in the 1939 register as 'Inspector Engineers'. At that time he was living in Mayplace Road East, Dartford, Kent.

JW Broadhurst joined the RAF on a short service commission and began his training on 6th February 1939. He did his initial training course at 11 E&RFTS Perth and in April he went to 2 FTS Brize Norton.

He was posted to 222 Squadron at its reformation at Duxford on 5th October 1939. Initially equipped with Blenheims, the squadron received Spitfires in March 1940. On 29th May, after a patrol over Dunkirk, Broadhurst failed to find Hornchurch in bad visibility, ran out of fuel and crash-landed.

In July 1940 he married Edith Lilian Carrott in Dartford (above).

On 31st August Broadhurst claimed a Me109 destroyed and another damaged, on 4th September a Me109 destroyed and another damaged, on the 7th a Me109 destroyed, on the 9th a Me109 damaged, on the 11th a Ju88 probably destroyed, on the 15th a Me110 damaged and on the 27th a Me109 destroyed.

He was shot down on 7th October 1940 during an attack on enemy bombers. He baled out but fell dead at Longhurst.

His Spitfire, P9469, crashed and burned out at Baileys Reed Farm, Hurst Green, Salehurst.

Broadhurst was 23 years old. He is buried in Hornchurch Cemetery, Essex.