Sgt. J.A.C. Broadway

FIRST NAMES: John Alexander Collingridge

NUMBER: 989687

RANK: Sergeant Observer

UNIT: 110 Squadron RAF(VR)

DOB:1915

OCCUPATION: AA Patrolman

STATUS: Killed in Action

DATE OF DEATH: 15 July 1941

WHERE BURIED: Malta Capuccini Naval Cemetery

MEDALS: 1939-45 Star, Victory Medal

John Broadway was born in 1915 at Thornton Le Moor and was the son of Austin and Kate Broadway and brother to Lawrence. Austin and Kate were mine hosts of the Black Swan public house in the village. John, who preferred to be called Jack, attended the local school until he passed his eleven plus to go the Grammar School at Northallerton. On leaving school Jack eventually worked for the Automobile Association as a patrolman.

He joined the RAF Voluntary Reserve before the outbreak of war and qualified as a Sgt Observer. He was posted to No 110 (Hydrabad) Squadron which was operating Blenhiem Light Bombers from RAF Waddington. The Squadron then moved to Wattisham in Norfolk. In July 1941 John flew with a small detachment of No 110 Squadron to the island of Malta which was being subjected to intense air attacks by German and Italian bombers. It was while flying on operations in defence of that small island that John's aircraft was shot down and he was killed.

John Broadway is buried in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Plot1, Grave5. He is remembered at the Central Church of the RAF St. Clement Danes London, the War Memorial at Thornton le Moor and on the Grammar School Memorial Plaque.