Ralph's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Ralph Broadhurst was born on 10 August and baptised on 16 September 1885 at Christ Church, Macclesfield, the son of Mary and Ralph Broadhurst, a silk dyer of 11 Francis Street, off Oxford Road, Macclesfield.
In 1891, Ralph was living at 108 Paradise Street, Macclesfield with his parents and siblings Eliza (14), Frederick (12), Emma (10), Ada (8), Mary (4) and Florence (1). By 1901 Ralph was working as a silk piecer and living with his father at 4 Parr Street, Macclesfield, while his mother and three sisters lived at 41 Barton Street.
Ten years later Ralph and his father had moved to 2 Baker Street, Macclesfield, while his mother and sister Mary continued to live at 41 Barton Street.
Ralph's father later lived at 9 Armitt St, Macclesfield.
WW1 SERVICE
In 1915, Ralph joined the local 7th (Territorial) Cheshire Regiment with service number 3844. He was drafted to Egypt in 1916 and his service number was changed to 291252.
Ralph's death was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 13 April 1917:
COUNTY COUNCIL EMPLOYEE – TWELVE MONTHS IN EGYPT
Official news has come to hand of the death in action at the battle of Gaza on March 26th of Private Ralph Broadhurst, Cheshire Regt, son of Mr R Broadhurst, 6 Baker St, off Crompton Road, Macclesfield. Private Broadhurst was 30 years of age and a native of Macclesfield. He was educated at Crompton Road Day School and attended the Church there. Enlisting in the local Territorials nearly two years ago, he was drafted out to Egypt twelve months later. Prior to enlistment the deceased soldier was employed by the Cheshire County Council as a roadmaker. His nephew, Private W Biddulph, is serving in the Army.
COMMEMORATION
Private Ralph Broadhurst has no known grave and is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Private Ralph Broadhurst.
In Macclesfield, Ralph Broadhurst is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall and St Michael's Church war memorials, and may be the R. Broadhurst named on the All Saints Church war memorial. He is also remembered on a family grave in Macclesfield Cemetery, plot F4569.
NOTES
At the time of writing, the CWGC has the date of death as 21 March 1917 but all other sources state that the date of death was 26 March 1917.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births
Cheshire Parish Baptism Registers (Find My Past): Christ Church, Macclesfield
Census (England & Wales): 1891, 1901, 1911
British Army Medal Index Cards (Ancestry)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Times: 13 April 1917; 23 September 1921 (photo supplement)
Family History Society of Cheshire (FHSC): Macclesfield Area Monumental Inscriptions
Research by Rosie Rowley, Macclesfield.