Duncan Gordon Boyes
Duncan Gordon Boyes | |
---|---|
Shimonoseki Expedition | |
Awards | Victoria Cross |
Relations | Thomas James Young VC (brother-in-law) |
Duncan Gordon Boyes
Early life
Duncan Gordon Boyes was born on 5 November 1846 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, to John and Sabina Boyes, who had married in Hobart, Tasmania.[1] His father was a merchant, and Boyes was one of nine children.[2]
In 1860, Boyes' sister, Louisa Mary, married Thomas James Young, who received a Victoria Cross for his actions at Lucknow, India, in 1857.[3] At least one of his brothers also served in the Royal Navy.[2] Boyes' sister Helen was the wife of M. A. Bayfield.
Boyes completed his schooling at Cheltenham College[4] before joining the Royal Navy at the age of 14. He was assigned to HMS Euryalus, joining the ship in 1862 when it was serving as part of the East Indies station.[2]
Victoria Cross
Boyes received his VC at the age of 17, for his part in
The citation was published in the
Duncan Gordon Boyes, Royal Navy, Midshipman of Her Majesty's Ship Euryalus For the conspicuous gallantry, which, according to the testimony of Capt. Alexander CB, at that time Flag Captain to Vice-Admiral Sir
Augustus Kuper KCB, Mr. Boyes displayed in the capture of the enemy's stockade. He carried a Colour with the leading company, kept it in advance of all, in the face of the thickest fire, his colour-sergeants having fallen, one mortally, the other dangerously wounded, and he was only detained from proceeding yet further by the orders of his superior officer. The Colour he carried was six times pierced by musket balls.[5]
Sir
Boyes,
Later life
After Euralyus was paid off, Boyes was reassigned to HMS Wolverine, a corvette serving in North American waters. On 9 February 1867, he and another midshipman, Marcus McCausland, were court-martialled for breaking into the Naval Yard at Bermuda. On the night of the incident, the two men had been ashore drinking and upon their return had been refused entry at the main gate as they did not have the required passes. Both men admitted they were guilty of the offence and were discharged from the Navy as a result of the incident.[2]
Following this, Boyes suffered from depression and
He was buried locally in the
The medal
Between 1978 and 1998, the medal was held by Cheltenham College.[10] The Boyes V.C. sold for 51,700 pounds at auction by Spink, the auctioneers in London,[11] on behalf of Cheltenham College for the purpose of establishing a scholarship in Boyes' name.[12]
Commemoration
A series of posters of Duncan Boyes VC and other medal recipients was put on view on the Victoria line in London on 11 November 2004.[14][15]
See also
- Anglo-Japanese relations
References
- ISBN 0-8063-0415-4.
- ^ ISBN 978-14456-7649-4.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location (link - ISBN 978-14738-5709-4.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7553-1633-5.
- ^ "No. 22913". The London Gazette. 18 November 1864. p. 5471.
- ^ A Diplomat in Japan, first edition, p. 112.
- ^ "Provincial and General, North Otago Times, Volume XI, Issue 391, 23 February 1869". Retrieved 2 April 2017 – via Papers Past.
- ^ Dunedin branch – RSA Archived 30 December 2004 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Boyes' grave/memorial headstone Archived 12 March 2005 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Duncan G Boyes". The Comprehensive Guide to the VC and GC. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
- ^ "The Victoria Cross at Auction Part 2: 1983–1999". Spink. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
- ^ John Vincent in the Sunday Times, 22 July 1998
- ^ "Lord Ashcroft Gallery list" (PDF). Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
- ^ "Rail posters tell bravery stories". BBC. 8 November 2004. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
- ^ "Victoria Crosses of the Victoria Line: Boyes" (PDF). Transport for London. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
External links
- Duncan BOYES VC – a man more sinned against than sinning? (biography and background)
- Find a Grave entry for Duncan Boyes
- Mention of the suicide of Boyes Archived 17 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine in The Cruise of the Flying Squadron 1869–70 by Marcus McCausland