Alan Harry Boyce
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 17 Sep 1901 |
| Place of Birth | Cue, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 18 years, 5 months |
| Description |
5'4" (1.63m) tall ; 140lbs 63.503 kg ; fair complexion ; brown eyes ; light brown hair |
| Occupation | Clerk |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Gosnells, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr James Harry Boyce |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 3740 |
| Date of Enlistment | 4 Apr 1917 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 51st Battalion, 10th reinforcement, transferred to the 44th Battalion / 11th Brigade, 3rd Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 29 Jun 1917 ‒ 25 Aug 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A30 Borda |
| Date of Return | ‒ 28 Aug 1918 |
| Ship Returned On | HMT Malta |
| Fate |
Wounded in action (gassed) 25 May 1918 Returned to Australia (under age) |
| Monument | Gosnells RSL Honour Board |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Entered camp on 4 Apr 1917 and was allocated immediately to the 10th reinforcement draft for the 51st Battalion. On arrival in England the battalion was sent to the 13th Training Battalion at Codford to prepare for trench warfare on the Continent. While there he spent a week (20 - 28 Nov 1917) in the Group Hospital at Codford receiving treatment for scabies.
Alan proceeded overseas on 12 Dec 1917, and after 4 days in the 3rd Division's Base Depot, he was taken on strength by the 44th Battalion on 18 Dec 1917. The battalion was resting in Wakefield Camp, but on the 20th it moved back into the line in the Bois Grenier sector.
On 22 May 1918 Alan was detached from his normal role to become a runner between the battalion and the 11th Brigade HQs. Three day's later on 25 May 1918 he was wounded in action at Villers-Bretonneux. The battalion's War Diary indicates that in the evening they had been shelled, primarily with gas, but also with High Explosives. Alan was gassed while acting as a runner, and the injury appears to have been slight as he returned to the battalion on 3 Jun 1918 after being seen by the 11th Australian Field Ambulance and the 49th Casualty Clearing Station.
On 25 Jun 1918 Alan disembarked in Folkestone with orders to report to the Australian Administration's HQs in London. On 2 Jul 1918 he was sent to the 2nd Command Depot in Weymouth as it had been discovered that he was underage (at that time he was still only 16). His records are marked "Returned to Australia per 'D17' under age - Not to forfeit pay."
Discharged by the 5th Military District on 10 Oct 1918.
Post War
Notes
The instrument returning Alan to Australia was signed by The Honourable George Wise who was an honorary minister assisting the Minister for Defence.