Reference WMO/197371
Edit memorial name, location & address- Stone Stone (any)
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Grants to support the repair and conservation of war memorials are available from the charity War Memorials Trust if it has raised funds. Support is focused on war memorials in Very bad or Poor condition or where there is a serious Concern.
Before applying for a grant you should read the advice available on War Memorials Trust`s website. The What we can and cannot fund helpsheet explains what types of work the charity can fund.
If you believe your project is eligible for a grant you should complete the Pre-application enquiry form. You will need to be registered and logged in to complete this.
The Pre-application enquiry form is a series of questions to see if your project is eligible. If it is, you will need to provide further details and submit current colour photographs of the war memorial in either a png, gif, jpg or jpeg format.
You can save your Pre-application enquiry form as you go along. Once submitted War Memorials Trust will respond.
Please be aware that a summary of your enquiry, without your contact details, will appear on this page once submitted. This ensures others are aware that an enquiry has been made and can read the response to avoid duplicate enquiries. Information provided by you to us will be used for the purpose of managing the grant enquiry, for further details please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy .
As a charity, War Memorials Trust relies on voluntary donations and every contribution, no matter how large or small, makes a really big difference to our work. Your donation will help protect and conserve war memorials for future generations so please support War Memorials Trust’s work.
Tom was born here at Rhondda Villas (later demolished c.1965). He attended the council School across the road and was also a choir boy at St Peter's Church. Leaving school at 14 he worked at Stoke Road Garage until joining the RAF in May 1932. He trained as an armourer and in 1936 was posted to Sudan before moving to Palestine in 1937 with No. 6 Squadron. Having qualified as a Navigator with 105 Squadron, he was sent to France on the outbreak of war in 1939. During 1940 he completed several daring missions over Germany before becoming an instructor then rejoining his Squadron in January 1942. Later, flying very low over the Belgian Coast, his Mosquito hit an electric pylon. Fortunately the crew avoided capture and with the help of the Comet Escape Line reached Gibraltar via France & Spain. In May 1944, Tom linked up with Ivor Broom thus creating the legendary 'Flying Brooms' (571 Squadron Pathfinders). They were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (D.F.C.) twice for bravery for the low level bombing of the Dortmund-Ems Canal, and later the Kaiserslautern Railway Tunnel. In total the pair flew 58 missions including 22 to Berlin. Tom finally flew with 128 and 163 Squadrons, and throughout the war completed 83 missions. His third D.F.C. was awarded for sterling qualities of courage, leadership and devotion to duty. He met his future wife Annemarie (who later died in 1963) whilst they were both worked for the Control Commission in Germany and they returned to Portishead in 1949. He was an active member of the Royal British Legion and valued their camaraderie. Tom was a genuine 'Posset Lad' easily recognised in later life by his pipe, handle bar moustache and cheerful manner.
Sq. Ldr. Thomas John Broom D.F.C.
Information Required
Information Required
Information Required
Information Required
Information Required
Information Required
Information Required