Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthDecember 22, 1883
Place of BirthBarrie, Ontario
CountryCanada
Marital StatusSingle
Next of KinRebecca Broley, mother, Box 313, Kenora, Ontario
Trade / CallingClerk
ReligionPresbyterian
Service Details
Regimental Number2383748
Service Record Link to Service Record
Battalion27th Battalion
ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
BranchCanadian Infantry
Enlisted / ConscriptedConscripted
Address at EnlistmentBox 313, Kenora, Ontario
Date of EnlistmentApril 3, 1918
Age at Enlistment34
Theatre of ServiceEurope
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathNovember 1, 1955
Age at Death72
Buried AtLake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario
Plot5W-17-3

Broley, Robert Wilson

Although he gave his place of birth as Barrie, Ontario on his attestation papers, it is likely that Robert Wilson Broley was born in nearby Innisfall. He was the son of Samuel and Rebecca (Gilpin) Broley, both born in Canada to Irish immigrants. The family farmed in the Essa and Tossorontio areas of Simcoe and then lived in Innisfall before moving to Rat Portage (later renamed Kenora) in 1898. Children born to the family were Mary Ann (1868-1928), Norman Edward (1870-1933), James Albert (1872-1962), William John (abt 1875), Maud (1876-1947), Ida (abt 1879), Robert Wilson (1885-1955), and Russell (1888-1954).

Samuel was listed as a mill labourer on the 1901 Rat Portage census, with children William, Robert, and Russell still living at home. With occupation given as clerk, Robert signed his recruitment papers in Port Arthur on 3 April 1918. He gave his mother Rebecca in Kenora as next of kin and had completed his medical examination in Kenora the previous October.

With the 5th Draft of the 1st Depot Battalion, Manitoba Regiment, Private Robert Wilson Broley embarked from Halifax aboard the SS Melita on 17 April 1918. Upon arrival in England he was taken on strength with the 11th Canadian Reserve Battalion at Seaford. In October he proceeded overseas to join the 27th Battalion in the field.

With the end of the war, Private Robert Broley returned to England in late February of 1919 and embarked for Canada on the 14th of May, on his way home to Kenora. The 1921 Canada census found Robert and his mother living on 7th Avenue South. Over the years Robert clerked in White and Mannahan, Beatty’s Clothing Store, Al Young’s Clothing Store, and in later years he operated a tourist camp on Dogtooth Lake. He retired in 1951.

Predeceased by his father Samuel in 1902, his mother Rebecca in 1926, both in Kenora, as well as his sister Mary Ann Mayes in Toronto in 1928, brother Norman in 1933 in British Columbia, sister Maud Thorpe in 1947 in Kenora, brother Russell in 1954 in Kenora, and sister Ida Armstrong, Robert died suddenly on 1 November 1955 in the Kenora General Hospital. Along with his parents, he is interred in the Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora. At the time of his death he was survived by his brother James of Victoria, brother William of North Battleford, and nieces and nephews. Robert’s Veteran Death Card listed his nephew, Mr. C. Thorpe, of Winnipeg as his next of kin.

Robert’s nephew Hubert Broley, son of his brother James, trained as a cadet pilot in Canada with the Royal Air Force.

by Judy Stockham

Robert’s grave marker was installed in the Lake of the Woods Cemetery in 2018 by the Last Post Fund.

 


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