Archer was born on Wednesday, 13 August 1913 at Townsville, Queensland. He was the son of Hal (Henry) Hay Rhys Broughton and Lucy Mary Frances Glennie. Archer died on Sunday, 12 February 1989 at 132 Stubley Street, Charters Towers, Queensland.

Archer served as a Flight Lieutenant with 32 Squadron, RAAF, during World War 2, where he was known as Archie. He was a Pilot first of the somewhat ageing Hampden bombers with 455 RAAF Squadron. He was selected to deploy to the Eastern Front near Murmansk Russia when transferred to Coastal Command. It was a gruelling 8-hour flight in the high northern latitudes, challenging in both endurance and navigation. Archer later flew Beaufighters and the Squadron became a formidable force interdicting the mineral supply to German industry.