L/Cpl 53130 John Arthur Boycott

• Age: 21
• From: Madeley, Salop
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 23rd July 1917
• Commemorated at: Hooge Crater Cem, Zillebeke
  Panel Ref: IV.E.11

John Arthur Boycott was born in 1896 at Madeley and lived in Shawbury, Salop, and was baptised on the 10th June, 1896 in Madeley. He was the son of the son of Thomas Instone and Alice(née Tranter) Boycott of 23 Church St, Madeley. They had married 23rd August 1891 at Holy Trinity Church, Snead. 

John Arthur was educated at Madeley National Church Of England Boys School.

The 1901 Census shows the family living with Alice’s family at Cottages, Coalport, Madeley, Shropshire.

Her father Thomas Tranter is a widower aged 54, born 1847 in Madeley is a foreman for a china potters. He has two of his children living with him Mary Ellen aged 24, born 1877 a china potter and Ernest aged 16, born 1885 no occupation listed. Alice and her husband Thomas are living at the address with their three children, Thomas aged 8, John Arthur aged 4 and Dorothy aged 2.    

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 23 Church St Madeley.  His father, Thomas Instone, is aged 44, born in Salop in 1867 occupation encaustic tile draughtsman (artware). His mother, Alice, is aged 40, born in Madeley in 1870 is an innkeeper. They had been married for 20 years and had four children. Three children are declared to be in the household; John Arthur aged 14, born 1897 no occupation, Dorothy Nellie aged 12, born 1899 is at school and Madge aged 6, born 1905. They also have a visitor at the address Mary Ellen Tranter aged 34, born 1877.

He enlisted in Shrewsbury and originally served as 22088 of the Shropshire Light Infantry. Following a transfer he was serving in the 19th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Lance-Corporal No 53130 when he was killed in action on the 23rd July 1917, aged 21.

19th Battn. War Diary in the area of MUNCQ NIEURLET. 

CANAL RESERVE CAMP.  

23rd July 1917 - During the longer part of the day the Battalion rested, a few parades being held during the morning under Company arrangements. In the evening the battalion proceeded to the line, relieving the 6th Battalion of the Royal West Kents. 

TRENCHES. 

24th July 1917 - Relief was complete by 3.15 a.m. During the day the artillery on both sides were very active, special attention being paid by the enemy to the front and support lines. A few shells also dropped in RITZ STREET and in the vicinity of Battalion headquarters (DORMY HOUSE). 

According to the battalion War Diary, on the evening of 23rd July, the battalion proceeded to the line, relieving the 6th Bn Royal West Kents. It is highly likely that John was killed by shellfire during the relief. 

He now rests at Hooge Crater Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium.

Hooge Chateau and its stables were the scene of very fierce fighting throughout the First World War. On 31 October 1914, the staff of the 1st and 2nd Divisions were wiped out when the chateau was shelled; from 24 May to 3 June 1915, the chateau was defended against German attacks and in July 1915, the crater was made by a mine sprung by the 3rd Division. On 30 July, the Germans took the chateau, and on 9 August, it and the crater were regained by the 6th Division. The Germans retook Hooge on 6 June 1916 and on 31 July 1917, the 8th Division advanced 1.6 Kms beyond it. It was lost for the last time in April 1918, but regained by the 9th (Scottish) and 29th Divisions on 28 September.

Hooge Crater Cemetery was begun by the 7th Division Burial Officer early in October 1917. It contained originally 76 graves, in Rows A to D of Plot I, but was greatly increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of Zillebeke, Zantvoorde and Gheluvelt and other smaller cemeteries.

There are now 5,916 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 3,570 of the burials are unidentified, but special memorials record the names of a number of casualties either known or believed to be buried among them, or whose graves in other cemeteries were destroyed by shell fire.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.    

He was reported missing, believed killed in the Staffordshire Sentinel on 15th September 1917. 

King’s Liverpool Regiment – Lance-Corpl. J. A. Boycott (53130), Madeley.   

John earned his two medals.  

His effects, army pay of £1 16s 4d, war gratuity £6 3s 8d went to his father Thomas. A pension of 7/6 pw was awarded to his mother Alice, living at 23 Church Street, Madeley. 

He is also commemorated on the Madeley Cenotaph.

His father died aged 62 on the 6th April 1929. 

Wellington Journal - Saturday 20 April 1929 

STIRCHLEY.  

THE LATE MR. BOYCOTT.  

Much sympathy has been felt for the relatives of Mr. Thomas Instone Boycott, who died in his sleep on April 6. Deceased, who was greatly respected, was in the employ of Messrs. Maw and Company, Ltd., as a draftsman, and attended his work the same day as he died. The funeral took place at Madeley Parish Church on April 10, the Rev. J. C. G. Mercer (vicar) officiating. The chief mourners were: J. R, Boycott (son), J. J. Boycott and J. H. Boycott (brothers), T. Tranter (father-in law), B. Tranter (nephew). 

His mother, dob 5th May 1870, appears on the 1939 Register at 16 Tinsley Terrace, Much Wenlock where she is living with son John and daughter Madge. She died aged 74 in 1943. 

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