BOYES, William Henry
| Service Number: | 1672 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 14th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Rushworth, Victoria, Australia, 1879 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | 18 March 1935, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Drouin Public Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1672, 29th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 1672, 29th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Demosthenes, Melbourne | |
| 29 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 1672, 29th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Demosthenes embarkation_ship_number: A64 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 14th Infantry Battalion, At Egypt. | |
| 5 Jul 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 14th Infantry Battalion | |
| 11 Jul 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Sergeant, 14th Infantry Battalion | |
| 11 Jul 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 14th Infantry Battalion | |
| 1 Oct 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 14th Infantry Battalion | |
| 8 Feb 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 1672, 14th Infantry Battalion, To 13th Australian Field Ambulance with Gas Poisoning. | |
| 19 Aug 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 1672, To 12th Australian Field Ambulance with shrapnel wounds to his Arm and buttocks. Evacuated to hospital in England, wounds now stated to be GSW Left Arm, Left Foot, Right Thigh and eyes. | |
| 9 Sep 1918: | Honoured Military Medal | |
| 5 Oct 1918: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal | |
| 2 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 1672, 14th Infantry Battalion, Discharged at Melbourne Medically unfit, disability GSW Left foot, fractured Phalang. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Kerry Bulow
William was born in Rushworth, Victoria in 1879 and he was the son of Henry Albert Boyes and Emma Jane Crowle. He was farming at Larder, near Warragul, Victoria when he enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War on 16th July 1915 and he embarked with the 2nd reinforcements of the 29th Battalion for Egypt. He transferred to the 14th Battalion at Tel-El-Kebir, his brother was serving with this unit. He embarked for France on 8th June 1916 and they disembarked at Marseilles and moved into the trenches on the Western Front. William took part in most of the battalions operations and on 8th February 1918 he was admitted into the 13th Australian Field Ambulance with gas poisoning. He was evacuated to hospital in England. On his recovery he rejoined his unit and he received a 2nd wound on 19th August. William was admitted in hospital at Rouen with gunshot wounds to his Left arm, left foot, right thigh, and shrapnel in his eyes. He was again evacuated to hospital in England. After he had recovered enough to travel he was returned to Australia on 18th January 1919, and he was discharged on 2nd August as medically unfit. His brother was Lieutenant Frank Harold Boyes, who was commissioned from the ranks and awarded a Mention in Despatches.
Awards:
1. Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) LG 5th December 1918 Page 14458
"For conspicuous gallantry bravery and valuable service near LIHONS West of CHAULNES on 19th August 1918. Under cover of an intense barrage the enemy attacked English troops on our left while this Non-Commissioned officer was in charge of a liaison post between the two Brigades. As the troops on his flank were forced back, Sergeant Boyes at once organized a party including nine of the retiring troops and advanced along the trench against the enemy. Soon getting in touch with the enemy, he himself shot the leading Hun and began to attack with rifle grenades, dispersing the enemy party and preventing any exploitation to the flank. He then worked along the trench, dropping posts as he went, to bring fire on the now retiring enemy. Towards the end of the operation he was severely wounded. Owing to his foresight, courage and immediate grasp of the situation, the enemy exploitation was checked, and the rapid re-occupation of the line made possible"
2. Military Medal (MM) LG 24th January 1919 Page 1250
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near MORCOURT East of CORBIE on 8th August 1918. When his platoon Commander had to take over the Company owing to Officer casualties he took charge of the platoon and carried them through the operation with signal success. His daring and steady example carried his men across a fire swept ridge in fine order and control. His skill and initiative enabled his platoon to capture two machine guns and many prisoners in the teeth of severe enfilade fire, while his spirit and tireless energy were responsible for carrying tired men successfully to their objective."
3. British War Medal
4. Victory Medal
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