Charles Gordon Boyd

Charles Gordon Boyd was born in 1893 he was the son of George Herbert a district manager for an insurance company, and Sarah Louisa Boyd née Lord of 'Elm Lodge' Ranelagh Grove St Peters in Thanet Kent. George Herbert was born in 1863 at Salford, Lancashire, Sarah Louisa Lord was born in 1864 at Fleetwood, they were married on 18th August 1890 at St Marys Church, Prestwich. they had 3 children, their other children were Thomas Fraser b1892 Manchester and John Hardy born 1900 Romley. In the 1911 census the family are living at 13 Tavistock Drive, Nottingham, George Herbet, 48 yrs is a district manager for an insurance company, he is living with his wife Sarah 47 yrs and their children, Thomas Fraser 19 yrs an engineering student, Charles Gordon 18 yrs a scholar and John Hardy 11 yrs a scholar. The Nottingham High School , shows he attended the High school between 1908-12, his date of birth was 23 Jan 1893. He was Admitted 27 July 1908 aged 15 an was the Son of George H. Boyd, Insurance Manager, 13 Tavistock Drive, Mapperley Park. He was School Captain in 1911. He was a Civil Servant in London before joining up.

Second Lieutenant Charles Gordon Boyd, went to France 14th November 1915, he was Commissioned Second Lieutenant Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment, 9th August 1916 and posted to the 7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment, 10th August 1916. He was killed in action, 3rd May 1917 aged 24, whilst attached to the 9th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment whilst attacking Fontaine-Les-Croiselles with ‘D’ Company. Some details have emerged from the great nephew of Lance Corporal Herbert Golder Marsh, who said that “Lt Boyd “went down” early in the battle, well before dawn.” Lance Corporal Marsh was seen later, wounded himself, trying to find help to get Lieutenant Boyd back to his own lines. He was unsuccessful and was last seen going back down towards the German Trenches “to be with his officer”. Boyd's remains were not found until some six years later, in November 1923, when he was reburied in a nearby cemetery buried at Heninel-Croisilles Road Cemetery, France. Plot 2. Row E. Grave 10.

Herbert Golder Marsh was believed to have gone back to be with his Officer. Note that on the reburial record an unknown British Solider was found at same spot as Lt Boyd. Article published in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 23rd May 1917 :- “WOUNDED AND MISSING. “Lieut. C. G. Boyd. “Second-Lieut. C. G. Boyd, previously reported wounded, but now reported wounded and missing, was the son of Mr. Geo. H. Boyd, of Tavistock Drive, Mapperley Park, Nottingham. He was educated at the Wyggeston School, Leicester, and the Nottingham High School. At the latter he was captain of the school in 1911, and also captain of both the cricket and football teams. On leaving school he entered the Civil Service in London. In January, 1915, he joined one of the Public Schools Battalions of the Royal Fusiliers, and after serving in the ranks both at home and on active service was granted a commission the Notts. and Derbyshire Regiment last August. He again proceeded to the front in October, and was attached to the Leicestershire Regiment. In a letter to his father, a brother officer writes that the stretcher bearers found Boyd lying out wounded, “but he refused to be brought in, making the stretcher bearers take in other fellows,” and that when they returned to the spot later, no trace of him could be found.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.