Pte 25315 William Edgar Boyes

• Age: 27
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Saturday 15th September 1917
• Commemorated at: Voormezeele Cem Encl No. 1& 2
  Panel Ref: I.H.27

William Edgar Boyes was born on the 30th July 1890 in Liverpool and was the son of John Boyes and his wife Eliza Ann (nee Bowden) who were married on Christmas Day 1883 at St John's Church, Liverpool. John was a 22 year old mariner of 32 Nelson Street, father Thomas, whilst Eliza Ann was aged 22 of 43 Salisbury Street, father John. 

The 1891 Census finds the family living at Tillard Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool. William is 8 months old and lives with his parents and three year old brother Walter. His father, John, is a 29 year old railway porter, born in Liverpool, whilst his mother is also 29, born in Northwich, Cheshire.  

By 1901 the family is living at 41 Slade Street, Liverpool. William is 11 years of age and lives with his parents and two siblings. His father is now a fruit porter. His elder brother Walter is now 13 whilst his younger sister, Janet, is 8 years of age.    

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 2 Alma Street, Liverpool. His father, John, is aged 48, born 1863 in Liverpool, is a cotton porter, whilst his mother, Eliza Ann is aged 48, born 1863 in Northwich and is a housewife. They have been married for 29 years and have had eight children of which five had died, Those listed in the household are; Walter aged 23, born 1888 and William Edgar aged 20, are both seed crushers in an oil cake mill and Janet aged 18, born 1893 is a cigar maker in a tobacco factory.

 William was the husband of Marie Boyes (nee Ellames) of 4 Needham Road, Kensington, Liverpool. Marie was born 18^th July 1890. They married at St Cyprian’s, C. of E, Church, Edge Hill on 22^nd April 1916, William was aged 25 as was Marie. They had a daughter Marion born 19^th February 1917.

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 25315 when he died of wounds on the 15th September 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres.

He now rests at Voormezeele Cemetery Enclosures No.1 and No.2, Belgium.

The Voormizeele Enclosures (at one time, there were a total of four, but now reduced to three) were originally regimental groups of graves, begun very early in the First World War and gradually increased until the village and the cemeteries were captured by the Germans after very heavy fighting on 29 April 1918. No.1 and No.2 are now treated as a single cemetery.

Enclosure No.1, Plot I of the current cemetery, was begun by the 28th Division in March 1915 and carried on by the 17th, 3rd and other Divisions (and later by the Artillery) until April 1918. A few graves in Row N were added by the Germans, and a few more by Commonwealth forces in September and October 1918. One grave was brought into Row F after the Armistice from a position in the village.

Enclosure No.2, now Plot II, was begun in March 1915 and used until April 1917. After the Armistice, 42 graves from Enclosure No.4 were brought into Rows B, C and D.

Enclosure No.4 was behind a brewery a little south of Nos.1 and 2. It was begun by the French 3rd Regiment of Zouaves in December 1914 and used by the 4th Rifle Brigade and other Commonwealth units from January to November 1915.

There are now 593 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 40 of the burials are unidentified and 14 graves destroyed by shell fire are represented by special memorials. Other special memorials record the names of two casualties buried in Enclosure No.4 whose graves were also destroyed. The cemetery also contains 6 German war graves.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

He was remembered by his family on his 28th birthday in the Liverpool Evening Express on 30th July 1918: 

BOYES - July 30. In ever loving 28th birthday remembrance of my dear brother, Drummer William Edgar Boyes K.L.R., who died of wounds, Sept. 16, 1917. (Sadly missed by his loving and only sister, Janet, 16 Holford Street.)  

I have lost a loving brother,  

I have lost a loving friend; 

But I will cherish his memory,  

And love him to the end. 

BOYES - July 30. In sad but loving 28th birthday remembrance of our son, Drummer William Edgar Boyes, K.L.R. Pals, who died of wounds September 16, 1917. (never forgotten by his loving mother and father, 16 Holford Street.)  

Could I, his mother have clasped his hand,  

The son I love so well. 

To kiss his brow when death was nigh,  

And whisper “Willie, Farewell.” 

It is only a mother who knows the sorrow,  

It is only a mother who knows the pain  

Of losing her son she loves so dearly. 

Yet she knows she will meet him in heaven again. 

William had arrived overseas after 31st December 1915 and was entitled to two medals.  

He is also commemorated on the  following memorials:

St Cyprian’s, C. of E, Church, Edge Hill

J Bibby and Sons Ltd.

On the 1921 Census Marie and Marion are living in Birkenhead with John F. Kirwan (born in 1891). 

On the 1939 register they are married and living at 7 Bramble Avenue, Birkenhead.  

His father died, aged 72, in 1934, whilst his mother died, aged 82, in 1943. 

We currently have no further information on William Edgar Boyes, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.