Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Australian Remembrance Army

John Boast
Service No: 1880
Rank: T/Corporal
Unit: 49th Infantry Battalion

We recently had the honour of being given family and council permission to clean and tidy the grave of WW1 veteran, John Boast. After cleaning the grave surrounds and the granite headstone, we discovered that the lettering was now able to be clearly read. Not all granite headstones had painted letters (as is evident with the Boast headstone) and therefore do not require to be re-done. We never use harsh chemicals when cleaning graves (only a drop of dishwashing liquid in a bucket of water is all that is required) and only use soft-bristled brushes.

𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣 𝘽𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩 was born in 1881 in Ramsgate, England to parents Elizabeth Mary Craycraft and Ephraim Thomas Boast. John, along with his parents and older brother Thomas William, emigrated to Australia, leaving England on the ship “Dorunda”, arriving in Australia on 13 December 1886. The family settled in the inner suburbs of Brisbane, where three more children were born. Their only daughter Ruby Elizabeth was born in 1889 but died four months after birth. Two more sons were born with Charles James born in 1891 and Norman Louis born in 1898.

In 1895, John received a three-year scholarship to attend the Brisbane Grammar School for Boys. By 1903, he was working as a jeweller/watchmaker at a business on the corner of Queen and George Streets, Brisbane.

On 8 February 1905, John married Emma Smith, second daughter of Mr Charles and Frances Smith of Southport, with the ceremony held at the Trinity Church in Fortitude Valley. The couple had their only child, Thomas Louis in November the same year.

On 3 December 1915, John enlisted with the AIF to serve during WW1. He embarked from Brisbane, Queensland on 1 May 1916 per “HMAT Clan McGillivray”, disembarking in Alexandria, Egypt. Fourteen days after his arrival in Egypt, John was taken on strength of the 12th Training Battalion. He embarked from Egypt per “HT Megantic” on 6 August 1916, joining the training camp in Rollestone, England. John then proceeded overseas to France, and was was taken on strength of the 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot on 1 October in Etaples, before being taken on strength of the 47th Battalion in the field six days later.

The following month on 20 November 1916, John was sent to hospital in the field and transferred to 38th Casualty Clearing Station the following day with exhaustion. He was transferred to the 5th General Hospital in Rouen on 22 November and admitted to the 2nd Convalescent Depot four days later. He was taken on strength of the 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot from hospital on 2 December 1916. The following year on 3 January 1917, John rejoined the 47th Battalion in the field and was appointed Lance Corporal on 19 June.

On 14 October 1917, John was wounded in action, receiving severe wounds to his back, shoulder and arm. He was admitted to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station before being transferred to the 11th General Hospital in Camiers, and admitted to the 4th General Hospital on 1 November. John was transferred to England from Etaples, France on 5 November, and admitted to Tooting Military Hospital (also known as Church Lane Military Hospital) for treatment. (This hospital was a Home taken over by the War Office and had 712 beds for enlisted servicemen. After the war the Ministry of Pensions used it as a neurological hospital for shell-shocked and neurasthenic ex-servicemen until 1923.)

In 1918, John spent time with the 4th Australian Command Depot and the Overseas Training Brigade before being transferred on 7 July to Codford. He proceeded overseas to France on 22 November, arriving in Havre the following day. He was taken on strength of the 49th Battalion in the field on 2 December 1918, and promoted to Temp Corporal on 8 January 1919. John returned to England from Havre, France on 10 February, disembarking at Weymouth on 11 February. He returned to Australia per “HT Commonwealth”, embarking from England on 13 April. He disembarked at Australia in June 1919 and was discharged from service on 28 July 1919.

On his return from active service abroad, John and Emma lived in a home at 27 Evelyn Street, Newstead along with John’s brother Norman. Norman enlisted on 4 May 1917, serving as a Driver with the 1st Divisional Train, and was discharged from service on 21 November 1919. John resumed work as a jeweller, working in this profession until 1925, when he worked as a wool clerk.

John and Emma’s son Thomas was a champion swimmer and surf lifesaver. In 1928, Thomas was the Queensland backstroke champion, breaking the Australian record five times in one season, and was included in the team to represent Australia at the Olympic Games at Amsterdam. He was also club captain of the Mowbray Park-Burleigh Heads Surf Life Saving Club and competed in many surfing events. 

John Boast died on 23 August 1931, aged 49 years. He was buried in section COE-3 at Lutwyche Cemetery the following day. His wife, Emma died in 1974 at 95 years and was buried alongside John. Their son Thomas and his wife Maisie also share the family plot. Thomas died in 1988, aged 83 years and Maisie died in 1992, aged 87 years. John’s brother Norman died in 1934 and is also buried in section COE-3 at Lutwyche Cemetery.

Lest We Forget