(33290. SGT. H.S. BROADBENT. R.A.F.). Naming is officially impressed. Edge nicks, light contact overall, replacement ribbon, very fine. Accompanied by copies of three pages of his Service Records.
Footnote: Harry Seton Broadbent was born in 1891 in St. Pancras, London, Middlesex. He married his wife Rosa Broadbent on June 27, 1914 in Ryarsh, Kent, the couple having a daughter, Edith Winifred Leton Broadbent, who was born on April 8, 1915. Broadbent signed his Attestation Paper (33290) with the Royal Flying Corps on June 20, 1916, at the age of 24-25, signing on for "duration of the war", naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Edith, stating his religion as Church of England and his trade as that of Pianoforte Maker (AKA Piano Maker - the word piano is a shortened form of pianoforte, the Italian term for the early 1700s versions of the instrument, which in turn derives from "gravicembalo col piano e forte" and "fortepiano". The Italian musical terms "piano" and "forte" indicate "soft" and "loud" respectively). He is on record as having been employed as a Rigger (Aero.) with the Royal Flying Corps. He was appointed Air Mechanic First Class on March 1, 1917, then promoted again nine months later, to Acting Corporal on December 1, 1917. Upon the merger of the Royal Air Force with the Royal Naval Air Service, to form the Royal Air Force on April 1, 1918, he was re-designated with the rank of Corporal Mechanic. He would later see a promotion to Sergeant Mechanic. Broadbent was transferred to the Royal Air Force Reserve on March 10, 1919 and re-classified Sergeant (Rigger Aero.) on October 1, 1919. He was discharged from service on April 30, 1920.