BOYS, Gordon Grant
| Service Number: | 3517 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Norwood, South Australia, 18 January 1889 |
| Home Town: | Semaphore, Port Adelaide Enfield, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Agent |
| Died: | Fremantle, Western Australia, 30 November 1957, aged 68 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Grand Masonic Lodge WW1 Honour Board (1), Outer Harbor Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron WWI Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3517 | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 3517, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
| 12 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 3517, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Adelaide | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 3517, 32nd Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Gordon Grant Boys was born on the 18th of January 1889 in Norwood, South Australia. His known family included his mother, Elizabeth Grant, his father Hurtle Alfred Boys, and his two younger brothers, John Erick Boys, and Kenneth Boys. Boys worked as an agent until the 11th of January in 1916 when he enlisted. A month before he embarked he married Dorothy Seaborn-Boys in Adelaide. Soon after Boys moved to live in Broken Hill.
Boys embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A70 Ballarat on the 12th of August 1916 disembarking at Devonport England. He then proceeded overseas to France, where he was attached to the 32nd Battalion and was temporarily appointed to Lance Corporal, then Sergeant (provisional).
Boys was officially taken on strength with the 32nd Battalion in the field (France) on the 19th of January 1917. Shortly after, on the 28th January he was evacuated sick with scabies. He returned to dity 8 February. Soon after, on the 18 February he was evacuated again, suffering the effects of gas. Boys was treated by field ambulance and various casualty clearing stations until admitted to hospital. In March 1917 he was evacuated to England for further treatment and recovery. In January 1917 Boys had reverted to Private.
Throughout 1918, Boys had continued his service at depots in England. Boys returned to Australia on the 12th of December 1918 and was officially discharged from the AIF on the 20th of June 1919. On August 28th, 1919, His name was “Brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War for valuable services rendered in connection with the war.” Which was an official recognition, not a medal, although Boys was awarded a British War Medal, and a Victory Medal.
After returning to Australia his wife deserted him and moved to San Francisco seeking a divorce. Boys married Olive Elizabeth Fordham on the 15th of October 1927 in Fremantle Western Australia, and had three children: Regina S Boys, Bruce Gordon Fordham Boys, and Ross Mervyn Fordham Boys. Boys passed away in Fremantle, WA at the age of 68 on the 30th of November 1957. He has a plaque in Western Australia Garden of Remembrance.