BOYES, Charles Victor
| Service Number: | 323 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 March 1916, Blackboy Hill, Western Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 4th Machine Gun Company |
| Born: | Brookton, Western Australia, 15 October 1896 |
| Home Town: | Southern Cross, Yilgarn, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Beverley State School, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Locomotive engine cleaner |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 26 September 1917, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Kalgoorlie St John's Anglican Church Honour Roll, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient), Northam Fallen, Southern Cross Christ Church Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 323, Blackboy Hill, Western Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 323, 4th Machine Gun Company, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '21' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Miltiades embarkation_ship_number: A28 public_note: '' | |
| 7 Aug 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 323, 4th Machine Gun Company, HMAT Miltiades, Fremantle | |
| 26 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 323, 4th Machine Gun Company, Polygon Wood |
Help us honour Charles Victor Boyes's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Valerie Watchorn
"...323 Private Charles Victor Boyes, 4th Machine Gun Company, of Brookton, WA. An engine cleaner prior to enlistment, Pte Boyes embarked with the 4th Reinforcements from Fremantle aboard HMAT Miltiades on 7 August 1916. Pte Boyes was killed in action at Polygon Wood, Belgium, on 26 September 1917, aged 20. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
Biography contributed by Geoff Tilley
Charles Victor Boyes was born in Brookton Western Australia in October 1896 to parents Edward and Jane Eleanor Boyes nee Atkins who were married in Beverley in 1894.
Charles was one of twelve siblings with eight brothers and three sisters. He attended the Beverley school where his family lived and worked.
On leaving school Charles was employed by West Australian Government Railways (WAGR) in Northam as an engine cleaner.
Charles enlisted into the AIF in March 1916 in Northam. He conducted his training at Blackboy Hill where he was attached to the 4th Machine Gun Company. Enlisting with Charles was William Perks from Kobel near Merredin.
Charles embarked with the 4th reinforcements from Fremantle in August 1916, arriving in Plymouth England in September 1916.
In England he continued his training before proceeding to France joining his machine gun company in the field.
It was on 26th September 1917 that Charles along with his company where on the right flank with the Australian Divisions for the Battle of Polygon Wood. Moving forward at 6.45am the Australians were met with ferocious artillery barrage from the German lines.
It was during this time the Charles company was in support of the attack, the exact fate of Charles is unknown, but from reports several men from the 4th Machine Gun Company were examining a German dugout, when a number of German artillery shells exploded around the dugout. An officer and several men from the 4thMachine Gun Company were killed.
Private Charles Victor Boyes service number 323 of the 4th Machine Gun Company was killed in action at Polygon Wood Belgium on 26th September 1917. He was 20 years of age.
He has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium, where he is remembered with honour.
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