Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Residential address at the time of enlistment was given as Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst, NSW

Son of Charles and Harriet Jane Boase of King Street, Lutwyche, QLD formerly of Caboolture, QLD

Brother of Allan Joseph Boase who returned to Australia on 18 January 1918 having served with the 9th Battalion. Recommended for the Belgian Officer of the Order of Leopold; Leonard Charles Boase DSO MC who returned to Australia on 28 February 1919 having served with the 52nd Battalion; Francis Henry Boase who returned to Australia on 12 May 1919 having served with the 10th Machine Gun Battlion

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

 
BOASE Colin Arthur    #686  1st Battalion
 
Colin Boase was one of four sons and two daughters born in Gympie to parents Charles and Harriet Boase. Charles and Harriet were both journalists and were part owners of the “Gympie Miner” newspaper. Colin began his young life attending Gympie State School but when the family moved to “Medway”, Caboolture; Colin completed his school education at Brisbane Normal School which provided education equivalent to a junior secondary standard.
 
When Colin presented himself at Randwick for enlistment into the AIF on 22nd August 1914, he stated he was employed as a bank clerk in Sydney; living at Darlinghurst Road. He was 25 years old and single. Colin was added to the roll of the 1st Battalion AIF and marched into temporary camp for basic training.
 
Colin’s younger brother, Allan, was a cadet at Duntroon Military College when war broke out. The young officers were hastily graduated and Allan travelled home to Queensland where he was commissioned on 14th August in the 9th Battalion. Although in different battalions, Colin and Allen would tread a similar path over the next eight months.
 
The first division of the AIF comprising three brigades of infantry (1st Battalion to 12th Battalion) embarked from various ports during October 1914 to rendezvous at Albany WA before sailing via Colombo for the Suez Canal. While the convoy was at sea, Turkey entered the war on the side of Germany and Austria Hungary.
 
Upon disembarking in Egypt, the Australians were camped at Mena on the outskirts of Cairo from late November 1914. Training continued and Lt Allan Boase delivered many useful lectures and demonstrations. It is highly likely that Colin and Allen met each other during this time.
 
In the first week of April 1915, the Australians embarked in Alexandria as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. Time was spent in Mudros Harbour on the island of Lemnos practising boat and landing drills. The 9th Battalion, part of the 3rd Brigade was chosen to be part of the covering force that would be first ashore at Gallipoli on the 25th. The 9th would land on the far right of the landing zone with its right flank exposed. Sometime during the first hours of the 25th, Lt Allan Boase sustained a serious shrapnel wound to his right thigh and was evacuated to a hospital ship.
 
Colin and the 1st Battalion landed at Gallipoli a few hours after the 3rd Brigade. The landings later on the 25th were more heavily opposed and casualties among the later arrivals were much higher. During the landing or soon after, Colin received a gunshot wound to his left hand.
 
Both Colin and Allan were admitted to the Australian Hospital at Heliopolis in Cairo. Charles Boase back at Caboolture received a telegram advising that both of his sons had been wounded but were progressing favourably. Allan’s wound was more serious and he was eventually taken to England for specialist care.
 
Colin’s wound improved and by the 27th May, he was back with his unit on the peninsula. Colin was attached to a Vickers Machine Gun team. In August 1915, a serious attempt would be made to break out of the stalemate that had developed on Gallipoli. A night attack on the Sari Bara Ridge and a new landing at Suvla Bay would be supported by diversionary raids along the Australian line at Lone Pine and The Nek.
 
The 1st Battalion was to be involved in the attack on Lone Pine on 6th August. The Vickers Machine Gun was too unwieldy to be of any use in a charge across open ground so the MG teams remained in the Australian trenches providing covering fire. It is reported in several Red Cross Wounded and Missing reports by witnesses that Colin was acting as spotter for the gun team when a Turkish shell landed in the trench. Colin was killed instantly. His body was carried back to Brown’s Dip and eventually buried in the cemetery at Shrapnel Valley.
 
The military authorities in Melbourne were advised by cable of the casualties from the front. The usual procedure was to advise the commander of the Military District in which the soldier had enlisted, who would then consult the attestation papers in the soldier’s file to determine next of kin and religion. A suitable person (usually a priest or minister of religion) would be contacted to pass on the grim news. In the case of Colin Boase, the person given the task was the Clerk of the Caboolture Shire.
 
Charles Boase objected to what he described as a “stranger passing on news, he meant nothing to me, nor I to him.” He requested that if any future communication of this sort was required (as in the case of Allen but also two other sons) that he be advised directly by telegram.
 
The Boase family eventually received two parcels of Colin’s personal effects which included a pipe and tobacco pouch, a souvenir book of Egypt and some coins. Allen Boase eventually recovered from his leg wound in England. After convincing a medical board that he was fit for active service, he was posted back to Gallipoli in time to administer part of the evacuation plan in December of 1915. His military career continued to blossom with appointments as staff officer and brigade major. At wars end Allan returned to the Australian Army as a career officer. He served again in World War 11 and eventually retired in Melbourne with the rank of Lieutenant General.
 
Leonard Boase and Francis Boase (Colin’s elder brothers) both enlisted in early 1916. Francis served with the 10th Machine Gun Company. Leonard was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 52nd Battalion. Leonard was awarded a Military Cross for leadership during action in Flanders. Leonard was also recommended for a Victoria Cross for his heroic actions at Dernacourt in April 1918 where he was severely wounded and taken prisoner. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Order instead. Francis survived the war and returned to fruit farming at Caboolture. Leonard, once released from POW hospital, returned to his peacetime occupation as an insurance inspector.
 
In 1918 Charles Boase, the patriarch of this notable family died. His widow moved to Lutwyche to be closer to a daughter. Harriet applied for a War Service Home Loan on the strength of Colin’s death.