J BOUSTEAD RGA.

[WASMAN]

I have a victory medal to a J Boustead of the 7th mountain RGA, he died 10/08/1915, was wondering if any more information was available about the man or how he died, his number was 31948, cheers

Wasman.

[hmsk212]

Hi

SDGW :-

31948 Gunner James Boustead

Royal Garrison Artillery

Died of Wounds, france & Flanders 10/08/1915

Born Middlesbrough

Enlisted Middlesbrough

Plus, as his name starts with a "B", you can always try the new on-line Medal Index Card service at the National Archives web-site.

Steve

[Bob Coulson]

He's also remembered on Middlesbrough War Memorial although no regiment is given.

Bob.

[HeleneHanff]

Hi

I don't know if you are still interested but any way here goes. James Boustead was the second son of Tom Boustead and Charlotte Flint he was born in 1889 from Middlesbrough he joined the RGA in 1909 as a gunner aged 21 he was serving in the Mountain Battery at the Royal Garrison Baluchistan. He died of multiple shell wounds and is buried at Chocques Military cemetry plot 1 row D no 57.

As to the memorial stones at Middlesbrough James's name is incorrectly spelt on the plaque it is Bonstead J.

[David B]

James Bousteads' service records (36 pages) are available on Ancestry. His MIC states he went to France on 9 Dec 1914 and he was awarded the usual trio

1914-15 star BWM and Victory medal.

[RaySearching]

Quote from the recent post by HeleneHanff (As to the memorial stones at Middlesbrough James's name is incorrectly spelt on the plaque it is Bonstead J. )

(This refers to the incorrect spelling of James Boustead's name on the plaque on Middlesbrough War Memorial)

Here is James' commemorative memorial Inscription on his parents grave marker (followed by my notes on James)

Gunner JAMES BOUSTEAD

31948 7th Mountain Div Royal Garrison Artillery

James was a pre war regular soldier he enlisted in Middlesbrough in August 1909

James was wounded in action (multiple shell wounds) and died of his wounds at no 1 Casualty Clearing Station aged 26 on 10th August 1915

He was the son of the late Tom (died 1900) and Charlotte Boustead (died 1912)

James widowed mother described as a general dealer and his siblings can be found on the 1911 census residing at 26 Lower East Street Middlesbrough

James can be found on the 1911 census as Overseas Military a gunner with the No 7 Mountain Battery R G A, No 7 Mountain battery Royal Garrison Artillery, Quetta Baluchistan India

James has a memorial inscription on his parent’s grave marker which can be found in Linthorpe Cemetery

Born and enlisted Middlesbrough

CHOCQUES MILITARY CEMETERY

regards Ray

[ororkep]

7 Mountain Battery RGA

war diary extract: August 10

^th

1915.

A very foggy morning. The detachment at FOSSE No7 were relieved. The whole battery was paid out. Between 12 and 1pm the Germans shelled the locality where the RX were in action E of CAMBRIN, very effectively with 4.2 howitzers and ‘pip-squeeks’ – the detachments were in their dug-outs. After the shelling had ceased some of the men came out of the dug-outs to remove ammunitions, when the Germans again started shelling us and the following 3 gunners were seriously wounded (three names listed Including Gnr BOUSTEAD) and it is feared that

Gnr BOUSTEAD

will lose his leg.

Obviously his wounds were much worse than first thought. His roll entry mistakenly records 45 MB, instead of 45 Coy.

Rgds Paul

[RaySearching]

So James died the same day that he was wounded

thanks for the added info from the war diary, Paul

regards Ray

[IPT]

We always get there in the end, WASMAN.

[RaySearching]

We always get there in the end, WASMAN.

"only took eight years" I am sure we can do better than that

regards Ray

[IPT]

Yes, it's amazing how many more resources have become available in such a short space of time.

Thankfully, the original poster is a recent visitor to the site. I wonder if he's still got the medal?