BOYCE, James Andrew
| Service Number: | 3757 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 30th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 25 April 1899 |
| Home Town: | Redfern, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Redfern / St. Peters Area, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 24 October 1917, aged 18 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient) |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 3757, 30th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 3757, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Sydney | |
| 17 Dec 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3757, 30th Infantry Battalion, Proceeded Q/Seas France per SS "Golden Eagle" from Folkstone 23-12-16 Marched in from England Etaples | |
| 23 Dec 1916: | Involvement Private, 3757, 30th Infantry Battalion, Marched out to Unit. Taken on Strength 3th. Batt. France B213 E7/1 DO3/557. | |
| 24 Oct 1917: | Involvement Private, 3757, 30th Infantry Battalion, Polygon Wood, 26-10-17 - Pte. KILLED IN ACTION. in the Field B.E.F. 24-10-17. B213 E7/43 VL517. DO49/4875. ANZAC SECTION, 3RD ECHELON. G.H.Q. British Expeditionary Force. 0. 1/c Captain Records. |
Help us honour James Andrew Boyce's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Coad
James Andrew Boyce was the son of James Henry Boyce and Margaret Mabel Cummings.
He was actually born on 25th April 1899, he tried to sign up earlier but was caught out as he was only 17. His parents would not allow it.
But he wore them down and eventually he did sign up on 24-04-1916 a day before he turned 18, obviously lying about his age as many young men did.
We have no photos, but I have his Memorial Plaque given to my Father Ted Coad a WW2 veteran by Jame's mother Margaret Mabel.
It's all we have to remind us of his Ultimate Sacrifice in the Great War.
In 2023 I visited Polygon Wood in Ypres, Belgium. We hired an expert on the battlefields to research where James fell. 4 soldiers were killed on that day 24-10-1917, James was one of them.
Records show as near as we can ascertain that he lost his life 1/2 mile N/W of Polygon Wood. We know he was buried but the fighting and the shells so intense his grave and remains would have been blown up.
I laid a wreath at Menin Gate in Ypres at the Last Post Ceremony, where his name is enscribed on Menin Gates walls.
Another Australian Soldier with NO KNown Grave.
Rest in Peace.
Lest We Forget.