Boal, James Young (James)
Private
No. 202862, 1st Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers
Died of wounds while a Prisoner-of-War on Saturday 20 July 1918 (aged 21)
Buried:
Hamburg Cemetery, Germany (Grave IV. B. 6)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Dalry War Memorial, Ayrshire, Scotland
First Cousin of Private Archibald Cairns
First Cousin of Rifleman William John Cairns
BIOGRAPHY
The name James Y. Boal is commemorated on Dalry War Memorial in Scotland.
James Young Boal was born on 17 January 1897 in the townland of Ballyhenny (sometimes Ballyhinney, Newtownards) and he was a son of John and Margaret Boal (nee Cairns) who were married on 15 May 1874 in Second Newtownards Presbyterian Church. John Boal from Gransha worked as a servant and he was a son of Isaac Boal, a labourer. Margaret Cairns from Newtownards was a daughter of Archibald Cairns, a labourer.
John and Margaret Boal (nee Cairns) had at least twelve children:
Isaac (born 5 April 1876 in Gransha, Bangor)
Alexander (born 11 October 1877 in Gransha, Bangor)
Eleanor (Ellen, born 13 July 1879 in Gransha, Bangor)
Isabella (born 10 August 1881 in Gransha, Bangor)
Robert (born 3 June 1883 in Gransha, Bangor)
Agnes (born 18 January 1885 in Gransha, Bangor)
Jane (born 24 October 1887 in Gransha, Bangor)
Sarah (born 8 August 1889 in Gransha, Bangor)
Mary (Minnie, born 7 November 1892 in Ballyhinney, Newtownards)
William John (born 22 July 1894 in Ballyhinney, Newtownards)
James Young (born 17 January 1897 in Ballyhinney, Newtownards)
Eliza Ann (born 5 March 1900 in William Street, Newtownards)
The Boal family moved to Scotland and in 1901 they were living in Pasturehill Cottage on Highfield Farm, Dalry where John worked as a farm labourer; Isaac and Alexander are not listed on this census return.
In the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Debt of Honour website it is recorded that Private J. Boal (No. 202862) who served with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB) died on Saturday 20 July 1918 and was buried in Hamburg Cemetery, Germany (Grave IV. B. 6).
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that Private James Boal (No. 202862) was born in Down, Co Down, lived in Dalry, Kirkcudbright and enlisted in Dalry, Kirkcudbright.
Prisoner-of-War records confirm that Private James Boal (No. 202862) was born in Newtownards and after being captured in April 1918 during the Battle of the Lys he was held in Munsterlager PoW camp. There he had his entire left leg amputated on 8 July 1918 and he died as a result of his wounds on 20 July 1918 (aged 21).