An Fine Mbe Group To Major Wilmot Hagerty Broughall Who Vital To The Canadian Intelligence Campaign

MBE Group of Seven; Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, Canadian Intelligence Corps, served as a Staff Officer with the 2nd Corps in Northwest Europe after D-Day Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member of the Military Division, 2nd Type (frosted silver, 49 mm x 62.7 mm); 1939-1945 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp; War Medal 1939-1945; and Netherlands: Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords, Officer (silver gilt with blue and white enamels, 40.5 mm x 64 mm inclusive of its crown suspension). Mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, the Order of Orange-Nassau with a large rosette on its original ribbon, the others medals with replacement ribbons, the CVSM reverse mounted, chipping evident in the white enamels on the reverse centrepiece ring, near extremely fine. Accompanied by the Case of Issue for the MBE (marked "M.B.E. (MILY)" on the lid, maker marked "ROYAL MINT" on the inside lid, lightly soiled recessed medal bed, case also near extremely fine); two Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member of the Military Division, 2nd Type Ribbon Bars (cloth, 10 mm x 37 mm); a four-ribbon Ribbon Bar (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member of the Military Division, 2nd Type, 1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with silver Maple Leaf Clasp, cloth, 10 mm x 137 mm); his Identification Tags (bakelite, one round (34.5 mm) and one one octagonal (33 mm x 38.3 mm), each stamped "MAJ. BROUGHALL W.H. C. OF E. CDN.", tied in place to a full-length neck cord); Name Tag (inscribed in blue ink "MAJOR W H BROUGHALL / CDN ARMY (MD2) / 172 BAY STREET SOUTH / HAMILTON, ONTARIO / CANADA" on both sides of a card, between two sheets of perspex and held together via six grommets, with string, 72 mm x 78 mm); Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Shoulder Flash (yellow embroidered lettering on blue wool, black cotton backer, 36 mm x 67 mm); two Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Shoulder Titles (bronze gilt, 16 mm x 44.8 mm, intact lugs and pin on one, the other with one lug intact); four Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Collar Tabs (bronze gilt, 26.5 mm x 29.2 mm each, intact lugs, three with pins); Sleeve Crown (bronze gilt with a maroon felt insert in the void of the crown, 26 mm x 27.5 mm, intact lugs and pin); six Pips (bronze, three with enamels, in a range of sizes, all with intact lugs, four with pins); Embroidered Pip (khaki and light brown embroidery on brownish-green wool, red wool base, 25.7 mm x 25.7 mm); two Large Canada General Service Uniform Buttons (brass, one is maker marked "W. SCULLY MONTREAL" on the reverse, the other is unmarked, 25.2 mm and 23.8 mm respectively, intact loops); Small Canada General Service Uniform Button (brass, maker marked "WATERBURY BUTTON CO." and marked "MADE IN U.S.A." on the reverse, 16.5 mm, intact loop); two Large Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Uniform Buttons (brass, maker marked "Wm. SCULLY, LTD MONTREAL" on the reverse, 25.8 mm each, intact loops, one exhibiting oxidation); Small Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Uniform Button (brass, maker marked "Wm. SCULLY, LTD MONTREAL" on the reverse, 16.8 mm, intact loop); Newspaper Clipping (announcing his appointment to the Personal Trust Department of National Trust in Toronto, 44 mm x 114 mm); along with copies of of his Service Records, Certificate of Service, Medals Awards Card and assorted research papers. Footnote: Wilmot Hagerty Broughall was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry on June 1, 1940. He was attached to No.2 Infantry (Rifle) Training Centre at Camp Borden on June 12th and promoted to Lieutenant on August 23rd. 2nd Lieutenant Broughall proceeded overseas for Second World War service from Halifax, Nova Scotia on December 16th, arriving in Gannock, United Kingdom on the 26th and taken on strength at Aldershot the next day. He was attached to Headquarters 4, Infantry Brigade on June 27, 1941 and taken on strength as Staff Learner "A" from the RHLI on December 2nd. He was transferred to 2 Division Infantry Reinforcement Unit and posted to Headquarters 4 Canadian Infantry Brigade on February 6, 1942, followed by a posting one month later to the Non-Effective Transit Depot on March 5th. Broughall returned to Canada three weeks later and was posted to No. 2 District Depot in Toronto on March 27th, then placed on command at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario on April 30th. He returned to No. 2 District Depot in Toronto and was transferred to the Canadian Army overseas on September 22, 1942, departing Canada on the 29th and arriving in the United Kingdom on October 7th. Upon arrival, he was posted to 1 Canadian General Reinforcement Unit, then posted to 2 Canadian Divisional Infantry Reinforcement Unit onOctober 13th and named Acting Captain on December 13th. He was posted to Headquarters 2 Canadian Corps on January 18, 1943, where he assumed the position of General Staff Officer III (Intelligence) in the rank of Acting Captain. Two months after arriving at Headquarters 2 Canadian Corps, he was promoted to Captain on March 15th. That Fall, he was posted to Headquarters 1 Canadian Army on October 20, 1943, where he assumed the position of General Staff Officer II (Intelligence) in the rank of Acting Major. The following Summer, he was posted to Headquarters 2 Canadian Corps in the rank of Major, on June 2, 1944. Broughall embarked the United Kingdom on June 20, 1944, two weeks after the D-Day Invasion, disembarking in France on the 28th. One month after arriving in Northwest Europe, Major Broughton filed a report from 2 Canadian Corps Intelligence: Summary No. 9 for the 24 hour period ending 2000 hrs on July 19, 1944, stating: "As the enemy forces reel under the impact of our series of heavy attacks which began yesterday morning, the possibilities of setting out a clear picture of his order of battle on our front became less. His object now will be to delay our advance long enough to permit the preparation of a position further to the South on which he can make a stand. Photographic Reconnaissance has indicated that some defences are already being prepared on the high ground of the general line FONTENAY-LE-MARMION 0358 - GARCELLES and SEQUEVILLE 0959. It is too early to attempt any estimate of the strength of these defences. To man them effectively he will need fresh infantry which will probably be drawn from those divisions which have been reported to be moving towards the bridgehead from North of the SEINE, the most likely being 89 Infantry Division and 17 German Air Force. 272 Infantry Division will withdraw East across the ORNE with 272 Fusilier Battalion, a body of picked troops covering its withdrawal. On the left of 272 Fusilier Battalion, I Battalion, 979 Grenadier Regiment of 271 Infantry Division has been identified already. The bulk of this division may now be in the line having relieved the infantry of 10 SS Panzer Division. As far as can be seen, the casualties of the former division have not been particularly heavy and it may be expected to provide the infantry to cover the withdrawal of the enemy forces on our right front. On our left there would seem to be little left of 16 German Air Force Division and element of 21 Panzer and 1 and 12 SS have been identified in the general area of BOURBEUBUS 0761, FRENOVILLE 1162 and EMIEVILLE 1365. The tanks of 12 SS in small packets were identified to-day north of BOURGEUBUS and on the right of 12 SS ... 1 SS Panzer Regiment reported to have about 40 Panthers was also identified. On the general line FRENOVILLE - EMIEVILLE, there are indications that the enemy has established an Anti-Tank line. In this area 503 Heavy Tank Battalion attached to 21 Panzer Division has been identified. The bulk of the identifications on our front seem to be units of the 12 SS HITLER JUGEND or 21 Panzer Division. Elements of the former see to be scattered everywhere East of the line BOURGEUBUS-BRETTEVILLE - SUR-LAIZE. The strength of either division can not be estimated but both are apparently still battle worthy armoured formations. It is believed that 10 SS Panzer Division is still West of the ORNE. There are indications that the Corps artillery of 1 SS Panzer Corps which has been supporting to-day's battle, is situated in the area BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE. (signed by Major WH Broughall for) N.E. Rodger, Brigadier, Chief of Staff, 2nd Canadian Corps, 0157 hours". He was posted to 6 Canadian Censor Section on November 15, 1944, then posted to Headquarters 2 Canadian Corps on January 1, 1945. Broughton was struck off strength of the Canadian Army in Northwest Europe on August 28, 1945, arriving in the United Kingdom the next day. He embarked for Canada three and a half weeks later, on September 21st and returned to Hamilton, Ontario, rejoining the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. Broughall was Mentioned in Despatches in 1945. Major Wilmot Hagarty Broughall was awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member of the Military Division, the announcement appearing in the Supplement to the London Gazette 36917 of Tuesday, January 30, 1946, on Thursday, February 1, 1946, page 676, while with Canadian Intelligence Corps, Headquarters 2 Canadian Corps, his citation reads, as follows: "Major Broughall has been GSO II Intelligence HQ 2 Cdn Corps, since 1 Apr 1944. During that period he has worked unceasingly and effectively toward developing the intelligence organisation in 2 Cdn Corps into a properly trained and efficient organisation. He has provided sound and reliable appreciation of the enemy's intention for the Corps Commander to base his plan on." Major Wilmot Hagarty Broughall, MBE was General Staff Officer II (Intelligence) at Headquarters, 2 Canadian Corps when he was made an Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords by Royal Decree No. 2 on December 8, 1945, the announcement appearing in the Supplement to the London Gazette 37476 of Tuesday, February 19, 1946, on Thursday, February 21, 1946, page 1053 and in the Canada Gazette of Saturday, December 22, 1945. His citation reads, as follows: "Major Broughall, throughout the whole of its operations in Northwest Europe, has performed these duties with responsibility initiative, a noteworthy independence and soundness of judgement and with a degree of enthusiasm and efficiency that permeated downward through all the Intelligence personnel in 2 Canadian Corps. By his leadership and his own conscientious and energetic work he provided the Corps Commander with an accurate and efficient intelligence service, thus contributing importantly to the success of the operations of 2 Canadian Corps during the liberation of Holland." Major Wilmot Hagerty Broughall, Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, Canadian Intelligence Corps was credited with having served in Canada, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe (France, Belgium, Holland and Germany), entitled to wear the War Service Badge, Class GSC, number 695625. For his Second World War service, he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp and the War Medal 1939-1945. After the war, he became a partner in a law firm, before joining National Trust in Toronto in 1954, and was later appointed to the Personal Trust Department of the company. (C:14)