Broham, Louis Fred

No.7202 – Corporal Louis Fred Bromham –

5^th Machine Gun Battalion

Louis Frederick Bromham was born in Fremantle in 1897 to Thomas and Lucy Bromham. He was educated at Perth Modern School and spent four years in the 87B Cadet Militia unit and also 12^th Months service in the 22^nd AAMC Militia. In 1913 Louis was working for the Western Australian Railways and was also studying at the Clerical Cadet College when he enlisted into the AIF on the 31^st July 1916. As he was only 19 he needed the consent of his parents to enlist. They gave their only son his wish and they signed the forms that allowed him into the AIF.

At the medical examination Louis was found to be 5 feet 6 inches in height; weight of 118 lbs; chest measurement of 33-35 inches; fresh complexion; brown eyes and dark hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic.

Initially sent to No.80 Depot, Louis was assigned to the 5^th Reinforcements to the 43^rd Battalion. He spent three weeks training with this group when he was transferred to the 23^rd Reinforcements to the 16^th Battalion. Twelve days were spent with this group before he was reassigned to No.22 Depot on the 16^th October 1916. While at this depot he was appointed a Corporal and on the 23^rd November was sent to No.95 Infantry Depot. On the 30^th December 1916 Louis was assigned to the 24^th Reinforcements to the 16^th Battalion. He trained with this group through January and embarked with them from Fremantle on the 29^th January 1917 aboard the H.M.A.T. “Miltiades”. During the voyage Louis was admitted to the Ship’s hospital but had soon recovered and was well when the ship docked at Devonport England on the 27^th March 1917.

Upon arrival the men were sent to the 4^th Training Battalion at Codford Camp on the Salisbury Plains. Louis was to spend the next few months in this camp. On the 31^st May 1917 he was transferred to the Machine Gun Training Depot at Perham Downs. He was attached to the 5^th Division Machine Gun Company which became known as the 25^th Machine Gun Company. While at the 4^th Training Battalion Louis had reverted to the rank of Private but at the Machine Gun Depot was promoted back to Corporal. He had a short stint in hospital in June with mumps but had soon recovered and spent the next few months training at the machine gun depot.

On the 7^th September 1917 the unit proceeded to France and they subsequently took part in the Third Battle of Ypres in September/October 1917. Louis stayed with the unit through the rest of 1917 and into 1918. In March 1918 he helped his unit fight the German advance on the Somme and in April was involved in the recapture of Villers-Bretonneux.

On the 8^th August 1918, a large advance by the British Armies was undertaken, with the 5^th Australian Division advancing next to the Canadian Corps. The first day was a success for the Australians and all objectives were taken. On the 9^th August further advances were attempted and it was during this time that Louis was killed in action. A Sergeant C.A. Jensen of Louis’s section stated that;

“At this time Bromham was a Corporal and when advancing on August 9^th about 3pm at Harbonnieres I was within two yards of him when he was sniped through the forehead. {He} Dropped, killed instantly. At the time the body was left where casualty happened but was buried in a British Cemetery on the left of Harbonnieres and I assisted to erect a wooden cross with the Battalion colours on”.

After the war the cemetery that Louis was buried in was expanded and became known as Heath Cemetery Harbonnieres and contains many Australian dead from the battles of August 1918. Louis lies in plot II.D.18