W/Cdr. H.S. Broughall

[Martin Gleeson]

Hello,

Could anyone please help me with this man, 06235 Herbert Seton Broughall. He was a Wing Commander and later a Group Captain in 1940. He had the Military Cross, but sources differ about a second award. The London Gazette website shows him with the Air Force Cross, but various issues of the Air Force Lists record him as being a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Which is correct ? Is there a citation for either award ?

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[wwrsimon]

Martin

His M.C. was reported in the Bexhill-on-Sea Chronicle of September 30th 1916.

Flight Sub-Lieut Herbert S. Broughall, M.C, R.N reported missing in the Aberdeen Press & Journal of 25th September 1917. A family tree on ancestry.co.uk records that he was shot down over Germany after transferring to the R.N.A.S. and spent two years [sic] as a P.o.W.

He later appears in the newspapers in Ocotber 1930 in relation to a plane crash. The Nottingham Post of October 9th 1930 reported the crash of a 'Vickers bombing machine' at Martlesham, where he is described as 'Flight Lieutenant Herbert Seton Broughall, M.C, D.F.C.'

See also: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/209469

Finally, as he was Canadian-born, the RCAF Association website has an entry for him, which includes the following:

Later awarded Distinguished Flying Cross as per London Gazette dated 11 June 1924 "for distinguished service rendered during operations in Kurdistan between 15th February and 19th June 1923."

Regards

Simon

[Martin Gleeson]

Hello Simon,

Many thanks for the clarification. So DFC it is.

Regards,

Martin.

[HughAHalliday]

He was Mentioned in Despatches, 1 January 1943. This recognized his role in 1942 evacuations from Burma. See Robert H. Farquharson’s For Your Tomorrow: Canadians in the Burma Campaign, 1941-1945 (private printing, Victoria, 2004), a thorough and highly readable account which vividly describes the campaign there to the end of the war.

[David Duxbury]

Martin, if you read all the posts, it seems as though he was a recipient of BOTH MC (1917) AND DFC (1924), as well as the mid.

[Martin Gleeson]

Thanks Hugh and David.

Yes, I was aware of the MC and another award. I was trying to determine with certainty whether the other award was the AFC or DFC.

Thanks again.

Martin.

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

A brief biography of Broughall, Herbert Seton, from Mike Westrop's, A History of No.10 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service in World War I:

Broughall, Hubert Seaton,?! Flight Sub-Lieutenant.

Born 6th October 1897. Born in Toronto, Ontario, his father was the president of the Stirling Bank and the family lived in England until 1910, when they returned to Canada. Broughall was educated at Lakefield, Ontario, and attended one term at Haileybury College in England.

Originally joined Royal Sussex Regiment and awarded the Military Cross.
Relinquished Commission to Royal Sussex Regiment and joined the RNAS on 2nd December 1916.
Under instruction Crystal Palace from 3rd December 1916.
Under instruction Vendome from 5th February 1917.
Under instruction Cranwell from 26th May 1917.
Dover from 23rd July 1917.
No.12 Squadron (RNAS) from 29th July 1917 to 5th August 1917.
No.10 Squadron (RNAS) from 6th August 1917 to 20th September 1917, when shot down to become a prisoner of war.

47 Squadron RAF in April 1919 during Allied intervention in Russia.
Military Cross gazetted on 22nd September 1916.
DFC gazetted 11th June 1924.
216 Squadron from 14th October 1924.
22 Squadron 8th January 1932.
Reached rank of Group Captain.

Combat record with No.10 Squadron.

6/9/17 Albatros Scout - Southeast of Dixemude - 08.00 - Out of Control.

Photo of Broughall included. (p.146).

Details of Broughall's service with No.10 Sqn RNAS:

6th September 1917.
At 08.00, a formation of twelve Albatros scouts were seen to the southeast of Diximude at 10,000ft. B Flight dived from 12,000ft and attacked the enemy formation. Curtis and Broughall both claimed an enemy machine out of control and a further four indecisive engagements took place. (p.72)

20th September 1917.
FSL Broughall and FSL MacDonald took off at 11.05. MacDonald attacked a company of troops at a main crossroads at 11.30. He was unable to report the location due to being new to the squadron and not yet familiar with the countryside. at 11.45, MacDonald had an indecisive engagement with an Albatros scout. He finished his patrol firing at a transport from 400 to 600 feet altitude. FSL H.S. Broughall did not return from the mission. Broughall, flying (Sopwith Camel) B6226), was last seen northeast of Staden (Ypres), and was shot down and captured. (p.75)

No.10 Sqn RNAS Casualties, Crashes and Incidents.

Date: 3/9/17.
Pilot: FSL Broughall.
Serial: (Camel) N6373. Forced landing and damaged machine. (p.178).

Date:20/9/17.
Pilot: FSL H.S. Broughall.
Serial: (Camel) B6226). Broughall, last seen northeast of Staden (actually, Ypres), was shot down and became a prisoner of war, possibly by Ltn Lange. Jasta 2. (p.178)*.

See:
A History of No.10 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service in World War I.
Westrop, Mike.
Atglen, PA.: Schiffer Military History,2004.
pp.72, 75, 146 & 178.

* For more on Broughall's combat and shootdown, see: The Sky Their Battlefield II - Updated - Expanded.
Henshaw, Trevor.
London: Fetubi Books,2014.
pp.115 & 119.

[Martin Gleeson]

Col,

Many thanks for that very full and interesting account of his career, esecially WW1. I can only add a little. My interest in him arose from a minor accident he had while pilot of Wellington L4383 on 1 March 1940 with 215 Squadron at Bassingbourne. The F.1180 shows he had over 2,000 flying hours, but only two in a Wellington by that date. Page 2 of the F.1180 adds some confusion in that his name is recorded as 'W/Cdr. H.S. Seaton-Broughall'.

Thanks once more to Col and everyone for your help.

Martin.