Sidney Victor Broadbear
Private 43482
10^th Batt. Lincolnshire Regiment

Division 6

Sidney Victor Broadbear was the  son of Mr and Mrs Cornelius Broadbear of 51, Beresford Road, Reading. He is commemorated upon the headstone of the family grave, number 13598.   Sidney Broadbear died on 28^th April 1917, aged 21, and is buried in Roeux British Cemetery Plot A. 27.

Roeux village was built over a system of caves which contributed to make its capture in 1917 exceptionally difficult.  The Battle of Arras began on the 9^th April 1917.  Its 2^nd phase of the began on April 23^rd 1917 but, heavy  fighting around the area had taken place from 12^th April.  On the 22^nd April, the chemical works near the village was captured and the village itself was taken on 14^th May after more very severe fighting.  The chemical works was lost in a German counter attack on the 16^th May,  the date was significant as it  marked the official end of the Battle of Arras.  The factory was regained in August.  The graves in the cemetery were made by the fighting units involved in the actions from April to August.