Jack Arthur Boyce

An Able Seaman with Hood Battalion, Jack died on 8th of October 1918 aged 19.

Jack was born at Blundeston on 4 December 1898, a son of John and Emma Boyce. He was baptised at Saint Mary’s Church, Blundeston, on 5 February 1899. In 1901 his family lived at Lound Road, Blundeston, and by 1911 at The Hole, Ashby. In 1916 the family’s address was the Dell, Ashby, and Jack was a farm labourer.

Jack attested for the Army Reserve on 4 December 1916 but was called up to serve with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 9 March 1917 and actually joined the Royal Naval Division which was designated to fight on land but was made up of naval personnel. 

From 10 March 1917 Jack was attached to ‘A’ Reserve Battalion, at Blandford, as an Ordinary Seaman. On 19 October 1917 he was advanced to Able Seaman and served with the 2nd Reserve Battalion at Blandford. Jack was drafted to France to join Howe Battalion on 31 December 1917. On 11 January 1918 he was admitted to 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital, Doullens, with a severely sprained left ankle and, on 13 January, he was transferred to 1 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples. On 27 January he joined 6 Convalescence Depot, Etaples, and on 2 February 15 Convalescence Depot at Trouville. On 1 March he joined the Base Depot, Calais, and on 3 March the Light Infantry Base Depot, Calais, and was posted to Hood Battalion on 5 March, joining then in the field on 13 March. Between 16 and 25 March he was attached to 189 Light Trench Mortar Battery.  

Jack contracted rose measles and was admitted to a Field Ambulance on 5 May and was transferred to 25 Stationary Hospital, Rouen, on 15 May. Jack was discharged to duty on 24 May and joined ‘L’ Infantry Base Depot on 26 May. Jack rejoined Hood Battalion on 6 June. He was sent to a Field Ambulance on 14 July, reason unknown, and joined the Divisional Wing on 26 July, rejoining his battalion on 28 July. He was admitted to a Field Ambulance again on 15 September and rejoined Hood Battalion on 19 September. 

There is no record of when, where, or how, Jack, was wounded, but the battalion war diary shows that his battalion arrived at Noyelles on 7 October and began operations nearby, at Niergnies, the next day and the battalion’s casualties were eleven killed, 89 wounded, one gassed and five missing. It seems that Jack was wounded in the attack and then taken to 148 (Royal Naval) Field Ambulance, at Noyelles, where he died of wounds.