Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
ff
Updates for Lieutenant William James Boal D.C.M.
Date Information
08/01/2020
08/01/2020 From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 7th March 1942: Ulster D.C.M. Killed
08/01/2020 Mrs Sarah M Boal of Tobermore, a teacher in Magherafelt Parochial P.E. School, has received intimation that her husband, Lieutenant William J Boal, D.C.M., Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (A), a native of Belfast, and formerly of 227 Ravenhill Avenue, has been killed while on active service.
22/07/2016 Private William James Boal received a D.C.M. for his contribution as a signaller whilst serving in St Quentin. He was granted the Award on 1st January 1919.
22/07/2016 William James Boal was the eldest son of Robert and Jane Boal. Robert Boal married Jane Hodgson on 6th December 1893 in the district of Banbridge.
22/07/2016 William was born on 24th December 1894 in Belfast. He was one of eight children, six surviving.
22/07/2016 Family: Robert Boal, Jane Boal, William James Boal (born 24th December 1894, Belfast), Robert Victor Boal (born 1st March 1896, Banbridge, Co Down), Mary Todd Boal (born 13th January 1898 Banbridge, Co Down), Arminella Boal (born 28th April 1904, Banbridge, Co Down), Sarah Elizabeth Boal (born 12th April 1906, Banbridge, Co Down), Eileen Muriel Boal (born 25th May 1910, Lurgan, Co Armagh).
22/07/2016 The 1901 census lists William J as age 6 living with the family at house 9 in Ballynaris, Dromore Rural, County Down. His father was not present. His mother was a shop keeper.
22/07/2016 His father was also in the army, and had served in Gibraltar, Egypt, Malta and South Africa.
22/07/2016 The 1911 census lists William James as age 16 living with the family at house 6 in Queen's Street, Lurgan, County Armagh. William had left school and was working as a clerk in a linen warehouse. His father was a Assurance Assistant Supt.
22/07/2016 William Boal enlisted in 1915.
22/07/2016 Private William James Boal was mentioned in despatches.
22/07/2016 William was married to Sarah Margaret (a.k.a. Daisy) of Tobermore.
22/07/2016 Reports suggest he may have worked as a manager at the Labour Exchange in Magherafelt.
22/07/2016 William signed up in World War Two, but age was against him, so he became a pilot with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
22/07/2016 Lieutenant William Boal served as a pilot instructor with Fleet Air Arm at the Royal Navy Air Station, H.M.S. Kestrel, at Worthy Down near Winchester, England.
22/07/2016 Lieutenant William Boal was working as a pilot instructor when he killed as the result of an air collision with another plane in England on 24th February 1942. He was 47 years old.
22/07/2016 Remarkably his father attempted also to enlist in World War Two, but was rejected.
22/07/2016 Lieutenant William Boal is buried in Draperstown (St. Columba’s) Church Of Ireland Churchyard in the family plot.
22/07/2016 The CWGC record Lieutenant William James Boal as the son of Robert and Jane Boal. He is also recorded as the husband of Sarah Margaret Boal of Tobermore.
22/07/2016 Private William James Boal served with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, as a signaller (Service No 19903).
20/07/2016
20/07/2016
20/07/2016
Read more