King’s Royal Rifle Corps, eldest _s._ of Walter Longley Bourke, of
Monycrower, Maidenhead, late Major, Duke of Lancaster’s Own Imperial
Yeomanry, by his wife, Ethel Kathleen Jane, only dau. of the late
Capt. John W... Freeman, of Rockfield, co. Hereford, 16th Regt., and
grandson of Rev. the Hon. George Wingfield Bourke, M.A., [4th _s._
of Robert, 5th Earl of Mayo]; _b._ 24 June, 1888; educ. at Mr.
Arnold’s School at Wixenford, Uppingham and Sandhurst, and received
his commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 1st Battn. King’s Royal Rifle
Corps, 6 Feb. 1909, becoming Lieut. 20 Aug. 1912, and Capt. 18 May,
1915. For some time he was A.D.C. to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland,
and was appointed A.D.C. to the Governor-General of South Africa, but
was unable to proceed with Lord Buxton to take up the appointment on
account of the outbreak of the war. He went out to the Front on 12
Aug. 1914, being in command of the machine-gun section of his battn.
He was with his battn. during the retreat from Mons and on the Aisne.
Near Ypres, on 26 Oct., he received a bullet wound in the foot, and was
sent home. Subsequently he was appointed Adjutant of the 6th (Reserve)
battn. of his regt., which appointment he might have retained until
the end of the war but for his own determination to go again to the
Front. Early in May he was transferred as Adjutant to the 9th Battn.,
and on the 20th of that month he again proceeded to the Front. “20
May. Just off,” he wrote. “We shall be in France before you get this.
I can’t understand myself. I expected when the time came I should be
sorry to go. However, I slept like a top last night, no worries, so
far no fears. Everything seems to me to be quite all in the day’s
work. It’s odd when you think of it.” He was promoted Capt. on 18 May,
though not gazetted until a few weeks later. Capt. Bourke was killed
in the first action in which the 9th battn. was engaged, and within
half a mile of the spot where he was wounded in October. The battn.
was ordered forward and marched up a railway cutting in full view of
a German observation balloon. Within a few minutes they were being
heavily shelled, and one burst close to Capt. Bourke and his servant
(Rifleman S. Chater), who were together; the latter was blown into the
air, but neither was injured. Capt. Bourke turned back to see if his
man was hurt, and they then made for some small dug-outs in the side of
the cutting. Before they could take cover, however, another shell fell
close to them, and Capt. Bourke was badly hit. Chater again escaped
unhurt, though he afterwards suffered so severely from shock that he
had to be invalided home. Chater ran off under heavy fire to fetch a
doctor, and succeeded in bringing one back in a very few minutes, but
only to find that Capt. Bourke was already dead. Chater remained with
him for several hours in the hope of being able to bring his body in,
but this was impossible. It was, however, recovered the next day, and
he was buried in a cemetery close to Ypres, where a wooden cross, put
up by his Colonel and some of his brother officers, marks his grave.
Col. Chaplin (himself killed shortly afterwards), in writing to Capt.
Bourke’s father, said: “I cannot express to you how very deeply we feel
his loss. He was most conscientious and a very useful officer, and
did his duty admirably. I fear his loss to the battn. and to myself
is almost irreparable.” And Major Hope (2nd in command), in another
letter said: “I should like to add that I myself only knew your son
for about a month, but that was quite long enough to become devoted to
him and to appreciate his sterling qualities both as a man and as a
soldier. I believe it was the same throughout all ranks of the battn.,
to which his loss is indeed irreparable. I was in the same mess with
him, and he was always so cheery and capable in any difficulty. Chater,
his servant, is heart-broken, and has gone to hospital.” Capt. Eric
Benson also wrote: “In the short time he was with us he did so much
for the battn. and helped everyone. We all miss him more than I can
say, both as a soldier and as a friend.” Like so many of the Bourke
family, he was devoted to hunting. In regimental point-to-point races,
too, he never missed a chance of a plucky ride for a place, and many
will remember how well he was often carried by his charger “Maxim Gun.”
The charm of his personality is vividly illustrated in the lifelike
description of him written by a friend, and here quoted: “He was
still a boy, though already in the Army and an A.D.C., when I first
knew him, about four years before his death. He retained to the last
day I saw him before he went out to the war for the second time the
light-hearted look of amusement at life of a typical boy, and his open
expression, curly brown hair, and big humorous brown eyes heightened
this first impression, but as time went on and things were discussed
with and before him and, incidentally, his own experience and plans, it
was striking to see how often he summed up a question in a few words
modestly and often lightly spoken. Then, when it came to decisions,
whilst almost turning the laugh against himself, he was clear as to his
own course of action, and this invariably included consideration for
and loyalty to others. He seemed to see his way without question. His
handsome, healthy face and figure and look of high spirits seemed to
put up the temperature when he came into a room.”
[Illustration: =Eustace G. W. Bourke.=]
=BOURKE, JAMES PATRICK=, Private, No. 93, 1st Australian Light
Horse, 2nd _s._ of James Bourke, Private Estate Steward, by his
wife, Elizabeth, dau. of Hugh Wallis; _b._ Kilfrush, co. Limerick,
23 Nov. 1880; educ. National School, Hospital; went to Australia in
June, 1907; enlisted after the outbreak of war and was killed in
action at the Dardanelles, 26 June, 1915. He _m._ at Hospital, 10
Sept. 1905, Mary, eldest dau. of Loughlin Doran, of 26, Deyne Avenue,
Rusholme, Manchester, and had a dau., Mary Elizabeth, _b._ 23 Nov.
1906.
=BOURNE, ERNEST=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4221), 294840,
H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BOURNS, CHARLES=, Lieut., 6th, attd. 4th, Battn. The Rifle
Brigade, yr. _s._ of Charles Bourns, of Boley, Lichfield, formerly
of West Hill, Oxted, Physician, by his wife, Florence, dau. of Edward
Walker, of West Hill, Oxted, and Araluen, Eastbourne; _b._ West
Hill, Oxted, 7 Aug. 1881; educ. Merchant Taylors’ School and St. John’s
College, Oxford (M.A.), and was an Assistant Master at Repton when
war was declared. Being a member of the Repton O.T.C., he obtained a
commission as 2nd Lieut. in Oct. 1914, and was promoted Lieut. in the
Rifle Brigade, 22 Jan. 1915. He was killed in action near Hooge, 25
May, 1915; _unm._ He was an Oxford (Rugby football) Blue in 1903.
[Illustration: =Charles Bourns.=]
=BOUTLE, SYDNEY=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 2047), 209405, H.M.S. Good
Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov.
1914.
=PLEYDELL-BOUVERIE, JACOB EDWARD=, Lieut., King’s Royal Rifle
Corps, only _s._ of the late Hon. Duncombe Pleydell-Bouverie,
of Coleshill House, by his wife, Maria Eleanor (Coleshill House,
Highworth, Wilts.), dau. of Sir Edward Hulse, 5th Bt., and grandson
of Jacob, 4th Earl of Radnor; _b._ Sherburn Lodge, Watlington,
co. Oxford, 12 July, 1887; educ. Evelyns, Uxbridge; St. Vincents,
Eastbourne; Eton, and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 4th Battn. King’s
Royal Rifles, 8 Feb. 1908; joined his battn. at Colchester, and left
with them for India in 1909. He was promoted Lieut. 23 Jan. 1911,
returning to England the same year. On the outbreak of war, after some
weeks at Sheerness, he went out with a draft on 30 Aug., arriving at
St. Nazaire 1 Sept., 1914. He left there to join the 2nd Battn. in
billets at Paynon, 20 Sept., and was posted to D Coy., taking command
of 13 and 14 platoons. The battn. remained at or near Paynon till
18 Oct., when they were moved to Ypres. They were in the trenches
from 22–24 Oct. when they returned to billets in Ypres. On 27 Oct.
they went into reserve trenches in a wood just east of Hooge, and
on 29th advanced to reinforce the 3rd Brigade at Gheluvelt. Lieut.
Pleydell-Bouverie was hit 31 Oct. while ordering a counter attack, was
carried to the rear under fire by Riflemen Taylor, Scott, Alcott and
Quick, and from the field hospital was sent by train to Boulogne. He
died early in the morning of 1 Nov. in No. 13 stationary hospital where
he had been admitted a few hours before and was buried in the English
cemetery there; _unm._
[Illustration: =J. E. Pleydell-Bouverie.=]
=BOWDEN, ALBERT JOHN=, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., A. 890), 123326,
H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BOWDEN, EDWARD RATCLIFFE=, Lieut., 6th Battn. Northumberland
Fusiliers (T.F.), _s._ of Thomas Bowden, of Sheriff Mount,
Gateshead Fell, co. Durham, J.P., head of the firm of Thomas Bowden,
Sons & Nephew, of Newcastle-on-Tyne and Manchester, Chartered
Accountants; _b._ 28 April, 1889; educ. Corchester Preparatory
School, Sedbergh, and Pembroke College, Cambridge (B.A.), was a
member of the O.T.C. at Cambridge, and received a commission in the
Northumberland Fusiliers 1910, being promoted Lieut. 25 Dec. 1912. He
died of wounds received in the action at Ypres, 28 April, 1915, and was
buried at Abbeville; _unm._
[Illustration: =Edward Ratcliffe Bowden.=]
=BOWELL, FREDERICK JAMES=, Leading Seaman (R.F.R., B. 2088),
162995, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914;
_m._
=BOWEN, CUTHBERT EDWARD LATIMER=, Assistant District
Superintendent, East African Police, Lieut., attd. King’s African
Rifles, elder _s._ of the Rev. Thomas James Bowen, Vicar of St.
Nicholas, Bristol, by his wife, Susan Elvina, dau. of John Williams,
of Ty-ar-y-Graig, Swansea; _b._ at All Saints’ Vicarage, Swansea,
23 Sept. 1881; educ. at Box Grove, Guildford, and Rugby. He joined
the 3rd (Royal Surrey Militia) Battn. of the Queen’s during the Boer
campaign, and did duty at Guildford depôt during the 1900 embodiment,
and in South Africa. After the peace of Vereeniging he was gazetted
into the Regular Army and posted to the 1st Battn. of the Queen’s,
then stationed on the North-West Frontier of India. In 1904 he was
transferred to the West India Regt., and served with the 1st Battn.
in Jamaica under Col. A. R. Loscombe. In 1905 he was employed under
the Colonial Office, and became an assistant superintendent of police
in the East African Protectorate and was serving under Major W. F.
S. Edwards, the Insp.-General, when war broke out. He was attached
to the King’s African Rifles, and fell on 1 Dec. 1914, at Utendi, in
the Nyanza Province. His body was recovered and brought to British
territory and buried at Utendi. The following message was received
from Col. Edward, D.S.O.: “Mr. Bowen’s loss not only to the Police
Force but to a large number of personal friends, will be most severely
felt. I deem it to be the wish of all that their condolences should be
inseparable from the high tribute of praise of the commanding officer
that Mr. Bowen evidently lost his life in a gallant attempt to capture
Susuni Hill. Concerning myself, I feel that I have lost both a gallant
and true friend.” He _m._ at Nairobi, British East Africa, 25
May, 1907, Alice May, dau. of (--) Swift, and had two daus.: Kathleen
Elvina, _b._ 25 March, 1908; and Dorothy Starbuck, _b._ 25
Jan. 1911.
[Illustration: =Cuthbert E. L. Bowen.=]
=BOWEN, EDWARD=, Signaller (R.F.R., B. 2774), 230362, H.M.S. Good
Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov.
1914.
=BOWEN, GEORGE FREDERICK=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 2434), 169906, H.M.S.
Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BOWEN, HENRY=, Rifleman, No. 3265, B Coy., 21st Battn. (1st
Surrey Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), 3rd _s._ of Charles
Richard Bowen; _b._ Camberwell, 17 Nov. 1893; was a Clerk, but
after the outbreak of war joined the Surrey Rifles, 25 Jan. 1915, and
was killed at Festubert at 6 a.m., 9 May, following being shot through
the temple by a sniper; _unm._
[Illustration: =Henry Bowen.=]
=BOWERS, PERCIVAL CONWAY=, Private, No. 9664, 2nd Battn.
Lincolnshire Regt., _s._ of the late John Bowers (who served 22
years in the Army with the Yorks and Lancs., and _d._ 25 Aug.
1915), by his wife, Ann (Queen Street, Frodingham, Scunthorpe, Lincs.),
dau. of (..); _b._ Broughton, co. Lincoln, 13 June, 1895; enlisted
9 Dec. 1913, and was killed in action, being shot by a sniper, 21 Feb.
1915. He was buried at a farm on the north side of the Rue Wasselot,
south-east of Rue Bacqueort; _unm._
[Illustration: =Percival Conway Bowers.=]
=BOWES, ROBERT EDWARD=, Officers’ Steward, 3rd Class, L. 5306,
H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BOWES, WILLIAM EDWARD=, Stoker, R.N.R., 2652T, H.M.S. Hogue; lost
in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BOWLBY, GEOFFREY VAUX SALVIN=, Capt., Royal Horse Guards (The
Blues), 6th but 2nd surviving _s._ of the late Edward Salvin
Bowlby, of Gilston Park, Harlow, Essex, and Knoydart, Inverness,
J.P., D.L., by his 2nd wife, Elizabeth, dau. of Robert Vans-Agnew,
of Barnbarroch, and Sheuchan, co. Wigtown; _b._ London, 1 Dec.
1884; educ. Eton, and joined the Royal Horse Guards from the Militia
(King’s Own Scottish Borderers) as 2nd Lieut., 9 March, 1904. He was
promoted Lieut. 1 Feb. 1905, and Capt. 6 May, 1908. He went to Ireland
in 1909 as A.D.C. to Sir Neville Lyttleton, returning to his regt. in
Sept. 1910 to take over the Adjutancy which he held to Sept. 1913. On
the outbreak of war he was sent to France in advance of the composite
regt., as billeting officer to the 4th Cavalry Brigade, rejoining his
regt. the day before the battle of Mons. After the fight at Wytschaete,
29 Oct.-1 Nov. 1914, Capt. Bowlby was the senior officer left and
took over command of the composite regt. for a short time, until
each squadron went back to its own regt. On rejoining the “Blues” he
commanded the A Squadron. He was killed leading his squadron in a
charge across 1,000 yards of open country north of Bellewarde Farm,
during the 2nd Battle of Ypres, on the afternoon of 13 May, 1915. His
commanding officer wrote: “I cannot tell you what a loss he is to the
regt.; he was as gallant as he could be and a magnificent soldier. He
was so keen and energetic and proud of his squadron, of which he took
the greatest care.” Capt. Bowlby was a fine polo player, and enjoyed
great popularity at the London grounds. In his day there were few to
surpass him in skill and dash. For several seasons he was No. 1 in
the Blues’ team, and in two years (1910 and 1912) he helped the side
to win the Inter-Regimental Cup at Hurlingham. The other members of
those victorious sides were: Capt. Lord Alastair Innes-Ker, Capt. H. E.
Brassey, and Capt. J. F. Harrison. Capt. Bowlby was in the team again
in 1913 and in 1914, but his regt. was in both years beaten by the 1st
Life Guards. He _m._ at Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Street, 18
Oct. 1911, the Hon. Lettice, née Annesley, 4th dau. of Arthur, 11th
Viscount Valentia, C.B., M.V.O., and had two children: John Edward
Richard, _b._ 8 May, 1914; and Elizabeth Mary, _b._ 3 Feb.
1913.
[Illustration: =Geoffrey V. S. Bowlby.=]
=BOWLEY, HARRY EDWIN=, Private, No. 9913, 2nd Battn. Coldstream
Guards, _s._ of Harry Edwin Bowley, Private 2/4th Battn. Royal
Sussex Regt. (now on active service), by his wife, Eliza May (41,
Bentham Road. Brighton), dau. of John Winder, of Brighton; _b._
Brighton, 25 June, 1894; educ. St. Luke’s Terrace Board School there;
was for some time a telegraph boy at the Brighton Post Office; enlisted
1 Jan. 1912; went to France with the Expeditionary Force, and during
the retreat from Mons was sent with a dispatch but never returned, and
is assumed to have been killed in action at Villers Cotterets, 1 Sept.
1914.
=BOWMAN, FREDERICK=, Seaman, R.N.R., 1793C, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost
in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BOWMAN, JAMES=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 3771), 180916, H.M.S.
Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BOWYER, CHARLES ALEXANDER=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 7440) S.S. 1330,
H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._
=BOWYER, WILLIAM HENRY=, A.B., 215065, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in
the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=BOX, FREDERICK JAMES=, Stoker, 1st Class, S.S. 112109, H.M.S.
Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=BOX, JOSEPH WILLIAM=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 2822), 175583, H.M.S.
Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BOXALL, CARYL LERMITTE=, Capt., 2nd Battn. The Hampshire Regt.,
yr. _s._ of Alleyne Alfred, 1st Baron Boxall, of 14, Cambridge
Square, Hyde Park, W., by his wife, Mary Elizabeth, dau. of the late
James Henry Lermitte, of Knightons, J.P., and nephew of Mr. Boxall,
K.C., Recorder of Brighton, and of the late Col. Sir Charles Boxall,
K.C.B.; _b._ at 14, Cambridge Square, W., 26 Dec. 1887; educ. Eton
(1901–6) and Sandhurst; received his commission in the 2nd Hampshires,
9 Oct. 1907, and was promoted Lieut. 1 April, 1911, and Capt. 4 Oct.
1914. He served in South Africa, Mauritius and India, and with the
Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. Landed from the River Clyde with
the 29th Division, and died of wounds received in action following
the landing at the Dardanelles on 25 April, 1915. He was _unm._
A brass plaque to the memory of this officer was erected in the south
aisle of St. Peter’s, Cowfold, Sussex.
[Illustration: =Caryl Lermitte Boxall.=]
=BOXALL, CHARLES BERT=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 3515), 210631, H.M.S.
Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1
Nov. 1914.
=BOXWELL, FRANCIS JEFFARES TILSON=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 3598),
188877, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast
of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=BOYCE, JOHN HENRY=, Trooper, No. 1626, Buckinghamshire Yeomanry
(Royal Bucks Hussars), only _s._ of Henry Boyce, of Woodford
Green, Essex, and grandson of the late Henry Boyce, of the Leman
School, Beccles, Suffolk; _b._.........., 1889; joined the Royal
Bucks Hussars early in Oct. 1914; left England for Egypt just before
Easter, 1915; went to the Dardanelles early in June, and was killed in
a charge at Suvla Bay, 21 Aug. 1915; _unm._
[Illustration: =John Henry Boyce.=]
=BOYD, DAVID=, A.B., 229233, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action
off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=BOYD, HAROLD ALEXANDER=, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Royal
Inniskilling Fusiliers, only _s._ of Dr. Alexander James Boyd, of
The Manor House, Ware, co. Herts (who served for 13 years in the 1st
(Herts) Vol. Battn. Bedfordshire Regt., and retired as Capt. in 1902),
by his wife, Constance Mary, dau. of Brackenbury Comyns Berkeley, of
Collett Hall, Ware, and grandson of the late Samuel Boyd, of Illerton,
Killiney; _b._ at The Manor House, Ware, 19 Jan. 1895; educ. at
the Preparatory School, Castle Park, Dalkey (co. Dublin), Rugby, and
Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was studying medicine at the
time of mobilisation and had passed his first M.B. examination at the
end of his first year. He had joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
in April, 1913, as a Special Reserve officer, and was called up for
service and at first put on Coast Defence duty at Lough Swilly, co.
Donegal, being afterwards sent to France on 31 Aug. He was killed in
action at Crecy, 7 Sept. 1914, during the Battle of the Marne; unm.
Corpl. W. Poots wrote: “On the morning of Monday, 7 Sept., we were
reinforced by a draft of a hundred men from the depôt in Ireland under
Lieut. Boyd, and continued the advance all day. In the evening the
Inniskillings had to find the outposts at a village to which we had
come--on the right being an open road with a row of apple trees, and
on the left a clear open plain. In the distance, about 1,000 or 1,200
yards, was a broad belt of woods and shrubs, from which came rifle and
big gun fire. This took us by surprise. We lined out and retaliated,
but their shelling was terrific, and we had no artillery with us.
Our officers were trying to find the range and had no cover from the
shells, thus exposing themselves, notably Mr. Boyd, who was standing by
an apple tree by the right of the road. He was struck on the body by
shrapnel and killed instantly; also Private Cousins, and 14 wounded.
We continued all night in this position. In the morning the enemy had
retired.” 2nd Lieut. Boyd was a fine athlete, gaining his colours at
Rugby in football, swimming, shooting and cross-country running; and
he also won the Royal Humane Society’s medal and Dr. Duke’s cup for
life-saving competition. At Cambridge he was a member of the First
Trinity Boat Club, and in 1914 he won the swimming championship of his
regt. at Aldershot.
=BOYD, NIGEL JOHN LAWSON=, 2nd Lieut., 1st Battn. The Black Watch,
yr. _s._ of William Boyd, of 26, Inverleith Place, Edinburgh,
Writer to the Signet, Member of the King’s Body Guard for Scotland
(R.C.A.), by his wife, Laura, dau. of the late John Crerar, of Halifax,
Nova Scotia, and grandson of the late Sir John Boyd, of Maxpoffle,
co. Roxburgh, by his wife, Isabella, 2nd dau. of John Lawson, 14th
Laird of Cairnmuir, co. Peebles; _b._ Edinburgh, 14 Sept. 1894;
educ. Cargilfield School, Midlothian, Winchester College and the Royal
Military College, Sandhurst. In passing into the latter he obtained a
Prize Cadetship, and in passing out he was fourth on the list. He was
gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the Black Watch, 25 Feb. 1914, and joined the
1st Battn. at Oudenarde Barracks early in March. After the declaration
of war he left Aldershot with his regt. in the beginning of Aug. for
France, and took part with it in the memorable retreat from Mons to
the Marne. He was fatally wounded on the morning of 14 Sept., his
birthday, during the early days of the great Battle of the Aisne. From
a description which he subsequently gave when in hospital in Rouen to
his father, it appears that in the early morning of 14 Sept., which
was misty, the Black Watch were acting in concert with the Cameron
Highlanders on the banks of the Aisne, and found themselves opposed
to a strong force of the Germans, and came under a very severe fire.
Lieut. Boyd with his platoon had been directed to take up a position,
and it had been indicated to him that it must be held at all costs.
The Germans continued to press on in overpowering numbers at that
point, and they could see them within 100 yards. He stated that he
had personally fired 10 rounds at them with a rifle, and afterwards
emptied his revolver at them. The shrapnel, machine gun and rifle fire
at the time was terrific. The enemy continued to press on from all
sides. He was standing up and had drawn his Claymore, and in turning
to the side to give a signal to those of his men who survived he was
hit. The bullet struck the scabbard of his Claymore, glanced off it,
entered the left hip and lodged in the bladder. After that he said
the Germans rushed the position. Words are unnecessary, and no effort
of the imagination required to show that this young officer and his
small force of men had made a gallant stand against overpowering odds,
and that they had acted in accordance with the best traditions of
their grand old regt. When on the ground wounded he asked a German who
was passing for assistance, but all that the man did was to threaten
to shoot him. After that he stated that he pretended to be dead when
other Germans passed. Some time after this a party of the Cameron
Highlanders appear to have been in the vicinity, and he was observed
by the late Capt. Napier Cameron of that regt. Capt. Cameron gallantly
went under fire to his assistance, and carried him to the shelter of
a lane some distance in the rear. Lieut. Boyd told his father that he
owed his life at the time to Capt. Cameron, as the ground on which he
had fallen was swept afterwards by a terrible cross fire, and if he
had been left there he could not possibly have survived. He lay where
Capt. Cameron had put him for 16 hours in the rain. A stretcher party
of the Gloucestershire Regt. found him and brought him in. Afterwards
he was for 36 hours in a cattle truck being taken to the Base hospital.
The officers in charge of No. 8 General Hospital, Rouen, and the Rev.
W. G. Arrowsmith, one of the Chaplains, there stated that the whole
of the time in that cattle truck, and afterwards in the hospital, he
had never complained, and had shown extraordinary fortitude, and that
the example shown had the most wonderful effect upon the wounded men
there. An instance told was this: a Quartermaster-Sergt., who was badly
wounded and was suffering a lot, had been calling out a great deal, and
disturbing the other men. After they had tried to soothe him without
effect he was told that in the next ward there was a young officer of
the Black Watch who was far worse than he was, and who never complained
at all. After that the man was quiet. Although very severely wounded,
great hopes were entertained of Lieut. Boyd’s recovery, as he had been
operated upon successfully. But it was not to be, as he collapsed
suddenly in the early morning of 12 Oct., the immediate cause of death
being a blood clot. As he died in hospital his body was brought back to
Scotland in the hospital ship St. Patrick. The Headquarters, Scottish
Command, arranged for a military funeral, which took place in the Dean
Cemetery, Edinburgh, on 19 Oct. From earliest boyhood he had taken
the keenest interest in all outdoor sports. He played in the “Houses
fifteen” matches at Winchester. At cricket he was a fair performer, and
at golf a Scratch player. He was a good rider, a keen fisherman, and an
excellent shot both with the gun and rifle. He represented Winchester
College at Bisley in 1911, when he shot for the Cadet Trophy, and was
again at Bisley in 1912, when he was in the Winchester “eight.” It had
been his greatest ambition from earliest childhood to be in the Black
Watch.
[Illustration: =Nigel John Lawson Boyd=]
=BOYD, PERCY GERNON=, Private, No. 3158, 10th (Liverpool Scottish)
Battn. King’s Liverpool Regt., eldest _s._ of Samuel Boyd, of
19, Hale Road, Liscard, Cheshire, Accountant and Secretary, Liverpool
Shipping Company, by his wife, Emma, dau. of William Ker, of Liverpool;
_b._ Egremont, Wallasey, co. Chester, 1 Sept 1890; educ. Liscard
High School, and joined the Army on the outbreak of the war Aug. 1914.
He died from shell wounds received in action at Locre, Flanders, 22
Jan. 1915, and was buried in the churchyard there; _unm._ Major N.
S. Anderson, D.S.O., wrote: “He was in my company (No. 1) and was under
my command. I was thoroughly satisfied with all his work. He was a good
soldier.” And a comrade wrote: “He was a real good soldier, and a very
brave one too. It was only the night before Lieut. Turner was killed
that he was out with him putting barbed wire in front of the trenches.”
He was an active and keen footballer, being a member of the Liscard
Old Boys’, Brompton, and other clubs, and won the mile handicap at his
school annual sports.
[Illustration: =Percy Gernon Boyd.=]