Personal Details | |
Date of Birth | December 25, 1898 |
Place of Birth | Rat Portage (Kenora), Ontario |
Country | Canada |
Marital Status | Single |
Next of Kin | James Albert Broley, father, Newgate, British Columbia |
Trade / Calling | Bookkeeper |
Religion | Methodist |
Service Details | |
Regimental Number | 2139982 |
Service Record | Link to Service Record |
Battalion | Cadet Wing |
Force | Royal Air Force |
Branch | Royal Air Force |
Enlisted / Conscripted | Conscripted |
Address at Enlistment | 35 Cambridge Street, Victoria, British Columbia |
Date of Enlistment | June 4, 1918 |
Age at Enlistment | 19 |
Theatre of Service | Canada |
Prisoner of War | No |
Survived War | Yes |
Death Details | |
Date of Death | September 14, 1984 |
Age at Death | 86 |
Buried At | Royal Oak Crematorium, Saanich, British Columbia |
Hubert James Broley was born on 25 December 1898 in Rat Portage (Kenora), Ontario. His parents were James Albert Broley and Annie Hoey who had married in Barrie, Ontario on Valentine’s Day 1894. James’ occupation was given as farmer on the marriage record but over the years he worked as a carpenter and in various mills in British Columbia. Hubert had at least two sisters, Marjorie Irene and Betty.
Hubert signed his recruitment papers with the No 2 Company of the 2nd Depot Battalion, BC Regiment on 4 June 1918 in Victoria. He’d had his medical examination the previous June. His place of residence was given as Victoria and his next of kin his father James in Newgate, British Columbia. However, Hubert was discharged on the 17th at Willow Camp, Victoria on transfer to the Royal Air Force Training Depot in Toronto. As a Cadet Pilot, he was discharged in Toronto on 17 December 1918 as surplus.
Hubert returned to British Columbia where he married Jennie Mable Nichols on 5 July 1920 in Cranbrook. Hubert’s place of residence was given as Flagstone where he was working as a mill setter while Jennie had been living in Cranbrook. It is not known if Jennie died or the marriage ended in divorce but Hubert later married Annabelle Edith (Mills) Johnston. The couple lived in Fernie, British Columbia where Hubert worked as a lumberman, cruiser, and bus driver/inspector over the years. There were two border crossing records found for Hubert, one in 1936 at Roosville, Montana, and a second one in 1939 at Eastport, Idaho. After retirement Hubert and Annabelle moved to Saanich/Victoria. It is unlikely that Hubert had any children.
Predeceased by his mother Annie in 1953 in Saanich, his father James in 1962 in Victoria, and his wife Annabelle in May of 1984 in Victoria General Hospital, Hubert died on 14 September 1984 in Victoria. Hubert and Annabelle’s cremains are at the Royal Oak Crematorium in Saanich. At the time of his death Hubert was survived by his sisters Mrs Marjorie Brady of Montreal and Mrs Betty Murdock of Vancouver as well as several nieces and nephews.
by Judy Stockham
Air Force records: National Archives, London, England as found on findmypast.com
obituary: courtesy of Mike Melen
grave marker photo: courtesy of Betty and Dan on findagrave.com