Person

Stanley Boys, the son of Albert John and Elizma Boys, was born in Kensington, London on 26 February 1886. He had five brothers and lived in South London until he enlisted in the Queen’s Westminster Regiment in 1908. On 3 September 1914 he joined the 16th Battalion of its successor, the London Regiment. He was an unpaid lance-corporal when he landed in France on 25 January 1915 but was later promoted to lance-sergeant.

In May Stanley returned to England and on 27 October 1915 was discharged and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI). He returned to France on 24 January 1917 and joined the 8th Battalion DLI. On 1 July he was promoted to lieutenant and on 18 November to acting captain. In April 1918 he was badly wounded and was hospitalised. At the end of 1918 he was mentioned in despatches and on 8 May 1919 he relinquished his commission on grounds of ill health, retaining the rank of captain.

After the war Stanley became an Electrical Engineer and in 1923 married Marjorie Irene Playle in Surbiton and they had two daughters. Later he was a manager for the Edison and Swan Electric Light Company. Stanley Boys died in Bristol in 1954.

His award of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) was gazetted on 16 September 1918 and the citation reads: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a week of fighting, especially when in command of the left flank company, which was attacked by dense masses of the enemy. This officer organised his company and various units of other brigades and formed a defensive flank, working unceasingly along his company front and driving off an enemy attack in eight waves with loss. At night he withdrew across difficult country, and took up another defensive position. The following day he was enveloped, but by maintaining control of his men, and collecting stragglers of other units, he extricated them, being the last to withdraw. It was due to his energy and zeal that the retirement was successfully conducted.”

Birth date: 26-Feb-1886

Death date: 15-Nov-1954

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 23 Rigault Road, Fulham, London Surrey (1891 & 1901 Censuses)
74 Cromford Road, Wandsworth, London, Surrey (1911 Census)
47 Glen Road, Netheredge, Sheffield, Yorkshire (Surrey, England, Church of England Marriages, 1754-1937)
14 Owen Grove, Bristol, Gloucestershire (1939 Register)
5 Henleaze Park Drive, Henleaze, Bristol, Gloucestershire (England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995)

Education: St Marks College, Chelsea, London

Employment: Clerk (1901 & 1911 Censuses)
Electrical Engineer (Surrey, England, Church of England Marriages, 1754-1937)
Sales Manager (1939 Register)

Family: Father: Albert John Boys
Mother: Elizma Boys (nee Purser)
Brothers: John Chilcott, Harry, Herbert, Evelyn & Edgar Boys
Wife: Marjorie Irene Boys (nee Playle)
Daughters: Patricia E & Audrey B Boys

Military service:

Queen's Westminster Regiment & 16th Battalion London Regiment
Regimental number: 3068
Lance-Sergeant
5th & 8th Battalions Durham Light Infantry
Captain

Medal(s): Distinguished Service Order
Mentioned in Dispatches
1914-1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal

Gender: Male

Contributed by John Edwards