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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Major Richard Bolster M.C. 124 Bty R.F.A.


Andrew Marshall

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Dear All

 

I have been trying to find out about this man:-

 

Major Richard Bolster M.C. who was killed in action 5 June 1917

124th Battery

28th Brigade

Royal Field Artillery

 

War Diary entries that I have uncovered

 

WO95/1532/1 - 28 Brigade RFA

Le Touret 22 October 1916

Captain Bolster posted to Brigade from 15 Brigade RFA to command 124 Battery

Le Touret 5 Noveber 1916

Lt R.G. Bolster to be acting Major

 

WO95/293/7- 28 Army Field Artillery Brigade War Diary

The war diary states that 124 Bty is to come under the tactical command 41st Brigade RFA 2 June 1917

 

Rollincourt 4 June 1917

Major Bolster KIA

 

Age 35

Grave Reference: VI. J. 12.

Cemetery:Ecoivres Military Cemetery , Mont-St. Eloi

Additional Information: Son of Inspector General T. C. Bolster, R.N., and Mrs. Bolster; husband of Mary C. Bolster, of "Woodlands," Meopham, Kent.

 

 

L.G. – 29 August 1914 p.6882 – To be Lieutenant dated 30 August 1914

L.G. – 29 December 1916 p.12659 – To be acting Major

L.G. - 1 January 1917 p.31 – Gazette of the award of Military Cross

L.G. – 25 January 1917 p.936 – To be Captain dated 8 August 1916

 

I have the details for his MIC - WO372/2/200288 - this shows entitlement to a 1914 Star trio

I have his Medal Roll entries

 

Some family detail

Born 1883 Stonehouse, Plymouth, Devon – 4th Quarter volume 5b page 290

Father – Thomas Bolster

Mother – Charlotte Hannah Laura Cocker Bolster (nee Carpenter)

Brother – Thomas Charles Carpenter Bolster b. 17.08.1885

Sister – Laura Gwendolen Frances Helen Bolster b.1890

 

 

Married Vary Cargill Finlay 1911 in London- Richard was named in the divorce papers as having an affair with Vary.  They had a son Richard Vary Campbell Bolster born1912 – the family lived at Woodlands, Meopham – 3rd Quarter volume 1c page 73 London City

 

I can't find his service record but have traced an entry in the index for Officers Long Numbers WO338/3/1 page 10 image number 21 - this is listed as

Bolster R - RGA, RFA - 10611 - Captain - Dead

 

Can anyone help to point me in the right direction to find his service record please?

 

Also any help on discovering why he was awarded his MC would be nice or any other useful help is always gratefully received

 

Kind regards

Andrew

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  • 3 weeks later...

I have discovered that Major Bolster had been a pre-war officer, he is listed in Hart's 1908

 

15 July 1903 - 2nd Lt RGA

15 July 1906 - Lt RGA

 

and Chris kindly informed me that his MC was a New Years honours listing and would therefore not have a citation for a specific action

 

Kind regards

Andrew

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