Frank Broad

A Skipper with H.M. Drifter Ocean Fisher, Frank died on 16th of June 1918 at the age of 32.  

Frank was born at Dublin on 6 April 1886, a son of William and Annie Broad. His father was a career soldier. In 1891 his family lived at The Barracks, Heston, Middlesex, and by 1901 they were living at Canterbury. Frank has not been traced in the 1901 Census. It is possible, though not confirmed, that Frank was a fisherman working of the trawler A.J.W., at Ramsgate, in 1904 and noted for having tried to rescue a colleague, and being badly burned, when the trawler caught fire. 

Frank was awarded his certificate of competency as a skipper in 1907. In 1911 Frank lodged at 33 Wilde’s Score, Lowestoft, and he worked as a fisherman. On 22 March 1913 Frank married Ann Maria Turrell at Saint Margaret’s Church. Frank was a fisherman living at 18 Haward Street and Ann lived at 26 Haward Street. In 1914 they lived at 171 Whapload Road. Later Ann lived at 23 Worthing Road.

Frank joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 4 August 1915, as a Second Hand, and served on the trawler Glory. On 22 August 1915 he joined the trawler Retriever and on 24 September 1915 he was promoted to Temporary Skipper. Frank served with the trawler Kent County from 16 July 1916, and he joined the trawler Emperor on 30 November 1916. He served as the Skipper of the Ocean Fisher from 22 December 1916. Frank was Mentioned in Despatches on 27 June 1917 for his services in the Auxiliary Patrol during 1916. 

On 16 June 1918 the Ocean Fisher was on minesweeping operations off the Haddock Bank in the North Sea. The drifter brought up a mine in the trawl. The mine exploded, sinking the vessel, with the loss of all nine crew including Frank. 

Note Commonwealth War Graves records give Frank’s date of death as 19 June, while all official records, including his record of service, correctly give the date as 16 June.