Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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3932   Private Robert James Boyd
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Dated added: 01/01/2016   Last updated: 21/05/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Died: 16/05/1915 (Killed in Action)
Age: 22
Summary      
Robert James Boyd was the son of William and Mary Boyd. Robert was born bout 1893 in Ballyclare, Co. Antrim. He enlisted in Belfast. Private Robert James Boyd was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on15th May 1916 He was 22 years old. A newspaper report from July notes that he was of three sons who served in the war.
Further Information
Robert James Boyd was the son of William and Mary Boyd. Robert was born bout 1893 in Ballyclare, Co. Antrim.
He enlisted in Belfast.
Medal card
Private Robert James Boyd was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action at the Battle of Festubert on 15th May 1916. He was 22 years old.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 25th June 1915:
Private Robert Boyd, Royal Irish Fusiliers, Millquarter, Toomebridge, who went to the front at the outbreak of war, is reported wounded and missing.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 22nd July 1915:
Information of the whereabouts of Private Robert James Boyd (3932), 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who has been missing since the 16th May, would be thankfully received by his mother, Mrs Boyd, who resides at Millquarter, Toomebridge, County Antrim.
A newspaper report from July notes that he was of three sons who served in the war.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 30th July 1915: Ulster & The War
Mrs Mary Boyd, 6 Grange, Milewater, Toomebridge, is anxious for news of her son, Private Robert James Boyd, who was serving with the 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and has been missing since May. He was one of three brothers all in the fighting line.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 3rd March 1916:
Mr William Boyd, Millquarter, Toomebridge, has been officially notified of the death of his son, Private Robert Boyd, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Private Boyd has been reported missing since the Battle of Festubert on 16th May last.
Private Robert James Boyd has no known grave and is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, in Pas De Calais, France.
The CWGC record Private Boyd as the son of William and Mary Boyd of Ballyscullion, Toomebridge, Co. Antrim.
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Relevant Magherafelt Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Millquarter, Toome Toome Newspaper lists Millquarter, Toome 54.795498 -6.435254
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 Ballymena Weekly War 1915 Details of Robert James Boyd
2 National Archives UK Medal card can be purchased here
Magherafelt District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2014-2023