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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Gnr. Edgar Borley
British Army 182 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
(d.4th Oct 1917)
Edgar Borley served with 182 Siege Battery. He is buried In Wimereux and had been born in Suffolk.
Pte. Jules Bornet
British Army 15th Btn. Royal Hampshire Regiment
from:Southampton
(d.7th June 1917)
Pte. Adam Borrett
British Army 32nd Btn. Royal Fusiliers
from:Sudbourne
(d.22nd Sep 1917)
Adam Borrett was my grandfather's uncle. He has a grave in Suffolk, but I'm not sure if his body was recovered.
L/Cpl. Arthur Borrow
British Expeditionary Force 7th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment
(d.24th Oct 1915)
Arthur Borrow is remembered on the Loos Memorial in France.
Midship. Kildare Henry Borrowes
Royal Navy HMS Queen Mary
from:Dublin
(d.31st May 1916)
Kildare Borrowes was the son of Eustace and Winifrede Borrowes, of 18, Warwick Villas, Leeson Park, Dublin. He was killed in action at Battle of Jutland aged 16. He is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Pte. T. Borrows
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
2nd Lt. W. J. Borthistle
British Army Royal Munster Fusiliers
(d.29th Jan 1918)
W. J. Borthistle was the son of Captain W. J. and E. Borthistle, of Dublin. Served with the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Munster Fusiliers. He was killed in action aged 23 and is buried in Grand-Seraucourt British Cemetery, Aisne.
Pte. Chas. Borthwick
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Gateshead
Pte. Charles Alexander Bory
British Army 1st Btn. East Surrey Regiment
from:Kent
(d.8th May 1917)
Charles Bory died on 8th May 1917 at the Battle of Arras. His name is on the Arras Memorial.
Pte Alfred Boryer
British Army 10th Btn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Alfred Boryer is my Grandfather. I do have a photo
Pte Albert Bosley
British Army 13th Btn Royal Welch Fusiliers
Albert Bosley served with the 13th Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers in WW1.
Pte. Edward Charles Bosley
British Army 17th Battalion Royal Fusiliers
from:Brixton
(d.29th Sep 1918)
Edward Bosley was born in Dublin and enlisted in Lambeth.
Pte. Herbert John Bosley
British Army 2nd/4th Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
from:Thatcham, Berkshire
(d.3rd April 1918)
Gnr. George Samuel Bosomworth
British Army 31st Brigade, D.H. Bty. Royal Field Artillery
from:Leeds
(d.17th Oct 1917)
George Samuel Bosomworth was one of a few of my grandmother's brothers to die in battle. I'm trying to find out where he died and is buried.
Roland Bosomworth
British Army 21st Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
Pte. Henry Victor Bosonnet
British Army 15th (Service) Battalion Hampshire Regiment
(d.15th Sep 1916)
Henry Bosonnet was born in Dublin and enlisted in Portsmouth.
Sgt. John William "Jock" Boss MM.
British Army 42nd Battalion Machine Gun Corps
from:Hopetoun, West Lothian, Scotland
With the outbreak of the WWI, John Boss enlisted in the Royal Scots on the 16th of December 1914, and was assigned to B Company of the 1/8th Battalion. B company was located at Tranent, and had their drill station at Ormiston. His battalion initially took up position on the Scottish coastal defences. John received his six week gunnery training at the Training Centre at Belton Park, Grantham, Lincolnshire, and served in the Machine Gun section of the 1/8th Battalion. He was then sent to France around early to mid 1915 to join up with the battalion.
On the 24th of July 1916 John was compulsorily transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and was based temporarily for further training at the MGC base in Camiers on the northern coast of France. In early 1917, he was transferred to the 126th Brigade Machine Gun Company. On the 23rd of Feb 1918, the 126th Brigade Machine Gun Company, along with the 125th, 127th and 268th Brigade MG companies combined to form the 42nd Battalion Machine Gun Corps, attached to the 42nd Division of the British Army. Combining the machine gun companies took place to more efficiently utilise the Vickers guns and men. This allowed them to be moved quickly and placed where they were most needed, instead of remaining attached to specific brigades. It also allowed the division to develop and use sophisticated MG tactics, which became the hallmark of the MGC in 1918.
At this point the 42nd Battalion Machine Gun Corps was about 800 strong with 64 Vickers guns. The Battalion was divided into 4 Companies (A, B C and D), with each Company consisting of several Platoons. Each Platoon contained 8 sergeants, and each sergeant led a Section. By now a Sergeant John was in D Company, which was affiliated with the 126th Infantry Brigade, and he had charge of four Vickers machine guns and 24 men.
During 1918, Sergeant Boss with his 42nd Battalion Machine Gun Corps was heavily engaged in the battles along the Western Front. And it was near Solesmes, during the Battle of The Selle in October 1918, that She was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. His citation read:
No. 44491 Sgt. J.W. Boss, 42nd Machine Gun Corps Awarded the Military Medal: For great gallantry and devotion to duty near Solesmes on 20th of October 1918. During the advance of his unit, one of his guns came under heavy fire with some of the team wounded. He personally mounted the gun and continued to fire until the "spare numbers came up". His magnificent conduct and gallantry during the operations have been a fine example to the men under him. Signed: A. Solly-Flood, Major General, Commanding 42nd Division.
With shells, both explosive and gas, accompanied by strafing machine gun fire from the German 25th Division. The decision had been made for a surprise night attack by the Third Army, at 2am on the morning of the 20th of October. However, before it could make the all-important thrust forward, the 42nd Battalion Machine Gun Corps and 42nd Division were tasked with the operation to push the allied line to the west, beyond the River Selle. It was during this action that his bravery won him the Military Medal.
The section of the Selle that the Third Army had to contend with was more difficult terrain than that further north and south, and heavily defended. The river was about 30feet wide and 6-8feet deep and all bridges had been destroyed, making advance of the Third Army impossible. Along the eastern side of the Selle was a railway embankment with branch lines forming an elongated triangular plateau, an ideal defensive position where numerous German machine gun posts had dug in. Above that was a very steep ridge providing the German 25th Division with the high ground covering the north, south and west.
On the evening of the 19th of October, D Company along with the 126th Infantry Brigade, moved into assembly positions west of the Selle River. The situation of the front during the day was relatively normal, with hostile artillery and machine gun activity. At 2am on the 20th of October, the offensive resumed. Conditions were dark with heavy rain and the slopes on the eastern side of the river muddy and slippery. The 42nd Battalion Machine Gun Corps was crucial in providing a barrage for the assault, as well as moving forward with the 42nd Division across the Selle. C company along with the Auckland NZ MG company provided the machine gun barrage cover for the 126th Infantry Brigade who, along with A and D companies of the 42nd Battalion MGC, pushed across the Selle River. Intense fire from enemy machine guns could be seen raining down onto the river while John in D company and A company carried their Vickers across with pack animals. Once the plateau was taken, both companies set up their HQs in the railway cutting. A and D companies proceeded to attack the ridge. During this operation they encountered hostile patrols, dug-in infantry and machine gun posts. Once the ridge and high ground to the east had been secured, A and D companies dug in to defend their position. From their positions, during the morning in very dull conditions with fine rain, they provided the barrage cover for the 127th Infantry Brigade, who pushed forward and leapfrogged the 126th Infantry Brigade. During this assault they fired 57,000 rounds fired from their Vickers. At around 13.00hrs, D company consolidated their position and A company took up fresh positions to protect the right flank, owing to the neighboring Division to the right of the 42nd Division not having been able to take the high ground. Later that afternoon, A and D companies provided barrage cover when the neighboring division re-attacked with the assistance of the 127th Infantry Brigade to gain and secure the high ground on the right flank.
The official war diaries of the 42nd Battalion MGC states "Throughout the day hostile artillery and MGs displayed great activity. The whole area was consistently shelled". The assault by the 42nd Division on the 20th of October paved the way for heavy artillery to be brought forward ready for the final assault on the 23rd October, through the town of Solesmes and onto Maubeuge.
John Boss survived the war, and soon afterwards immigrated to Mildura in Victoria, Australia. With the outbreak of WWII he enlisted in the Australian Army, served as a machine gun trainer and attained the rank of Warrant Officer II. He died in Mildura in 1975.
Capt. Thomas Harry Boss OBE, MC, MID.
British Army 1/8th Btn. London Regiment
from:Newcastle
Captain (later Brigadier) T. Harry Boss won the MC at the Battle of Messines whilst serving with the Post Office Rifles. He survived WW1 transferring to the Indian Army which he served until 1947. He was also the President of the Post Office Rifles Association (Old Commrades Association) until his death in 1981.
Gnr. Bertie Charles Bostock
British Army 297th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
from:Tottenham, London
(d.23rd Mar 1918)
Bertie Bostock was killed by shell burst along with Cpl C Hinvest, Gunner T Haggar, Gunner H Collins, they are buried in the CGWC Mindel Trench Cemetery at St Laurent-Blangy.
Rfmn. Harold Leslie Bostock
British Army 2nd Btn. Rifle Brigade
(d.21st Jun 1916)
Harold Bostock was taken prisoner in a field at Nestle in Flanders and was taken to Stendal POW Camp. Possible cause of death was a lung infection.
Lt. C. Bostock-Smith
British Army 173rd Brigade HQ Royal Field Artillery
Lt. Boston
British Army 31st MGC. Machine Gun Corps
from:N. Ireland
I have a German 7.50cm m15 shell made by Berndorf dated 1915 ingraved Lieut. Boston 31 st Machine Gun Corps, Jiljilia, Balkans, Egypt 1916-17-18 Palestine. I would like to find out about Lieut Boston and the battle and was he from N. Ireland. I found shell in Bangor, Co. Down. Can anyone help?
Pte. Hubert Frederick Boston
British Army 8th Btn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment
from:Morecambe
(d.24th July 1916)
My great grandfather Hubert Boston was invalidated out of the Royal Navy, whilst serving in HMS Pembroke.
He joined the King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment and went to France in 1915 with the 8th Battalion. He served in Flanders and the Somme. He died on 24th July 1916. His remains haven't been found, so he's commemorated on Thiepval memorial. A small group of his comrades who died on the same day are buried at Flatiron Cemetery, which was a field hospital receiving casualties from the Longueval area of operations.
Pte John Joseph Boston
Canadian Infantry 87th Btn
(d.4th January 1918)
John Joseph left Ireland on the Empress of Ireland 16 July 1909, a draper from Belfast. He enlisted in the Canadian Infantry and was taken POW and died 4th Jan 1918.
Pte. William James Bosustow
Australian Imperial Force 22nd Battalion
from:221 Wellington Street, Kew, Vic
(d.3rd May 1917)
I will be in France at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial to pay my respects to Jas Bosustow and his fellow comrades on the 29th of April 17. It will be a few days short of his passing. If there are any family members of William Jas Bosustow who could share some light of his life and family I would really appreciated it.
Sgt. Archibald Boswell
British Army 10th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
from:Jarrow
(d.12th Oct 1917)
Archibald Boswell served with the 10th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He was born in Edinburgh around 1881 and died on 12th October 1917. Archibald is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial and is commemorated on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church Jarrow.
Rfm. David Boswell
British Army 10th Bat, B Coy King's Royal Rifle Corps
from:75 Sharp Street, Warrington, Lancashire
(d.29th Feb 1916)
Family folklore is that David Boswell died in a trench collapse. I do not know if this was due to enemy artillery action or a failure of construction. He is buried at La Belle Alliance Cemetery, Ypres.
Pte. David Boswell
British Army 10th Btn. Kings Royal Rifles Corps
from:75 Sharp Street, Warrington, Lancashire
(d.29th Feb 1916)
David Boswell served with B Company, 10th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps during WW1 and died on the 29th February 1916, aged 21. He is buried in La Belle Alliance Cemetery in Belgium. He was the son of Thomas and Sarah Boswell, of 75, Sharp St., Warrington.
Pte. James Boswell
2nd Btn. Northamptonshire Regiment
from:Towcester, Northamptonshire
(d.9th May 1915)
Pte. William Boswell
British Army 6th Btn. Lincolnshire Regiment
(d.22nd Aug 1915)
William Boswell was born in Dublin and enlisted in Grantham. He died of wounds in Gallipoli.
Page 67 of 126
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