Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Joseph Patrick and Gertrude Alice Boylson; husband of Joyce Mary Boylson, of Guildford, Surrey.

MISSING OVER
GERMANY
Report Concerning Ex Forbes Boy
Flight-Lieut. W. W. Boylson In February of last year it was our pleasing duty to record that Pilot-Officer William Wrixon Boylson, an ex-Forbes boy and brother of Mrs. F. L Stitt, of "Werai," Forbes, had  been awarded the D.F.C. for conspicuous bravery and courage as a member of the Bomber Command operating around the coast of Great Britain. Later, he gained a bar to this award and was promoted to the rank of Flight-Lieutenant. Now comes the sad news that he is missing from air operations over Germany, and the wish of his many old Forbes friends and those of the family generally is that  more reassuring news concerning his safety will be heard in the very near future.
On Wednesday his sister, Mrs. Stitt, received the following communication from, the Air Board, Melbourne: —
"Flight-Lieut. W. W. Boylson, D.F.C. and bar, missing. Dear Madam: I regret to inform you that your brother, Flight-Lieut. William Wrixon Boylson, D.F.C. and bar, is missing as a result of air operations  on June 25, 1914, Known details are that he was a member of a crew of Mosquito air-craft detailed to attack enemy target in Germany which failed to return to its base. Your brother's wife in England  has been informed by the Air Ministry. The Minister for Air joins with the Air Board in expressing sincere sympathy in your anxiety. When any further information is received it will be conveyed to you  immediately."
Flight-.Lieut. Boylson was married last October to an English girl. He is the youngest son of the late J. P. Boylson, former Crown Lands Agent at Forbes, and of Mrs. S. G. Boylson, of Murwillumbah, and  in addition to his only sister (Mrs. Stitt), has one brother, Flying-Officer Jack Boylson, who is in the R.A.A.F. serving at an Australian station. Flight-Lieut. Boylson enlisted at Ballina in 1939 while a  member of the staff of the Bank of Australasia there.

HOW HE WON THE ORIGINAL
DECORATION
When we reported the granting of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Ft./Lieut. Boylson in February, 1943, we stated that mention was not made of any specific incident having prompted the award,  which was made in recognition of his general efficiency and courage. He spent his early period of training in Australia and after advanced training in Canada he arrived in England to add further lustre to the R.A.A.F. in that sphere of action and relieve those gallant Englishmen, whose heroic exploits in the air saved Democracy from the heel of the Hun, of some of their man-sized duties. In a raid over  Nuremberg in August, 1942, Bill's Stirling bomber was badly holed by flack, and it was with difficulty that he got it back to England to make a forced landing, in which he received a leg injury that laid  him up for some time. Bill then belonged to that crack company of Australian pilots, navigators nnd air-gunners of the Bomber Command's super squadrons known as The Pathfinders, whose insignia is  a small albatross worn on the right breast pocket. They are all veterans of many raids, whose skill and bravery have repeatedly been proved. The physical fitness they must possess can be judged from the fact that they must have taken part in about 45 raids, which means about 300 flying hours.
The Pathfinders, Bomber Command's most decorated airmen have been trained and equipped for a single purpose, namely, paving the way for the main attack. They must find and indicate the  objective; on the fires they start often depends the success of an operation.
In the town where he spent part of his school life the hope is general that word of Bill's safety will shortly be received.

"ONE OF
FINEST PILOTS
IN BRITAIN "
"One of Australia's finest pilots in Britain, Flight Lieutenant W. W. Boylson, D.F.C. and Bar, of Balgowlah, near Manly, has been reported missing. He was on his fourth tour of operations," says a report  issued by the R.A.A.F. "This 26 years old veteran of the air war over Europe began operations in 1942 and completed 51 sorties without a break. These included the three 1,000 bomber raids in  summer, 1942. "Throughout the year he was off duty for one brief spell only - this was because of an injury suffered in escaping from a blazing Stirling after an attack on Nuremberg. "The aircraft had  been badly shot up over the French coast but although two petrol tanks were holed and the Stirling was gradually losing height, Boylson went on and bombed. The fuel gave out as the bomber reached  the English coast on return and Boylson had to crash land in a field. "The Stirling caught fire but the crew escaped with minor injuries "Boylson married an English girl, and his wife lives at Guildford, Surrey," concludes the report.
Worked in Bank
Flight Lieut. Boylson enlisted from Ballina, where he was a member of the Bank of Australasia. He had been living in Ballina about two years before his enlistment. He was well known in Richmond River sporting circles and took an active part in the Ballina Light-house and Lismore Surf Life Saving Club. He was a regular competitor at surf carnivals and a member of the championship boat crew. He also represented the Ballina club in R and R. events and took part in belt and surf swims. He played cricket and tennis in Lower River competitions.