Bertie Boaden
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Father: George Boaden, born 1856 at Barnstaple, Devon and working as a lace maker. Mother: Elizabeth Boaden, born 1855 at Chard, Somerset. He had six brothers; Charles, born 1879 in Chard, George, born 1882, Ernest, born 1884, Charles, born 1886, Bertie, born 1893 and Harry, born 1895. He also had two sisters; Ada Lilly, born 1899 and Florence K., born 1901. Apart from William all the children were born in Nottingham. When Bertie enlisted in 1908 he gave his next of kin as his father and brothers Archie, William and Charles, all of 8 Collison Street, Hyson Green. The family later lived at 72, Garfield Road, Radford, Nottingham. George Boaden was widowed but remarried Jane Boaden, also from Barnstaple in April 1907. The family home was still at 72 Garfield Road when Bertie was killed in 1915. Army Form W5080 (relations of the deceased): George Boaden (father) 72 Garfield Road, Nottingham (signed 'X-his mark'). Brothers: Frederick P Boaden (42), 37 Hague Street, Nottingham; William J Boaden (40), 17 Cooper Street, Nottingham; G(?C) Boaden (37), 14 Wyville Street, Nottingham. Sister: Ada Hurd (20), 72 Garfield Road, Nottingham. Brother Archibald (24), Private, 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters, killed 21/02/1915.
Army Service record survives. Enlisted age 18y 2m in the Sherwood Foresters; engagement reckoned from 23 October 1908. Served in India 20 July 1910-2 September 1914. Home Service 3 September 1914 then to Expeditionary Force 4 November 1914. Appointed unpaid lance corporal 25 November 1914 and paid lance corporal 14 January 1915. He had two short periods of illness while in France, 10-15 January 1915 ('bad feet') and 25-27 February 1915 (influenza). He was killed in action and had no known grave but is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial. He served a total of 6 years 141 days.
War Diary entry 1st battalion Sherwood Foresters, 12 March 1915 - "12th. 5 a.m. Germans suddenly shell Battn Hd.Qrs. and advance in overwhelming numbers to attack. Our right is forced to retire through fear of being outflanked, and Battn. after inflicting heavy losses on the enemy, retire to support trench about 150 yards in rear. Enemy continue advance massing on our right and right centre, but thrown into disorder by company bomber Pte. Rivers and through counter attacks by our left and left centre retire bring decimated by our fire, and Battn. regains its former trenches by charges, the enemy again suffering very heavily from our fire whilst retiring. Weather fine but dull with a heavy mist in early morning. 7 a.m. Battn. in complete possession of its former line. During this action Capt Dixon, 2nd Lts. Shacklock and Walker were killed amd Lt and Adjt Stranger and 2nd Lt Binney wounded. 3 p.m. Battn. suffer a few casualties from own artillery fire. Lieutenant O'Dwyer wounded about this time. 9 p.m. - Battn. withdrawn to support trench and a new defensive line is taken up." Private Jacob Rivers was killed later and awarded the Victoria Cross. Over 50% of the battalion became casualties. Soldiers Died in the Great War - Boaden Bertie, born Lenton Notts, enlisted Nottingham, abode Radford Notts, 10995, L/Cpl, killed in action, France and Flanders, 12/3/15 Nottingham Post notice (abridged) 8 April 1915: 'Boaden. Killed in action 12th March, Lance Corporal B Boaden, 1st Sherwood Foresters, son of George Boaden, 72 Garfield Road, Radford.'
