Belgian Corner Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Belgian Corner Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Vincent Aloysius Boylan, one of 9 children of whom only 7 survived, was the 2nd born of 4 sons, 4 daughters and 1 gender unknown, he also had 2 elder half-brothers from his father’s first marriage. His father James Boylan was born in 1857 at Longford, Republic of Ireland, in 1871 he was living with his family at 3, Eldon Street, Parish of St. Albans, Liverpool. James had migrated alone to the north east and was married in 1874 at Darlington, County Durham, to Bridgett Holland, whom although born at Bilston, Staffordshire, in 1856, had parents of Irish decent and by 1871 was living with her widowed mother Ann and her siblings at 9, Park Street, Parish of St. John, Darlington.
James and Bridgett had 2 sons, James William born 1877 and Cornelius in 1881. In 1881 they were sharing a property with the widow Mary Ward and her 3 children at 5, Johnson’s Yard, Darlington, James supported his family employed as a bricklayer’s labourer. Bridgett Boylan nee Holland died in 1883 aged only 27 years leaving James with the responsibility of 2 young children, 6 and 2 years of age. He remarried in 1884 at Darlington to Anne Daley.
Anne gave birth to their first child, Ellen, in 1885, Francis 1886, Vincent Aloysius 1889 and Rose Marie in 1891 whilst they were living at 13, King Street. James was still employed by a bricklayer, James William (13) was a wool bobbin setter at a woollen factory, Cornelius (9) and Ellen (6) were scholars, the younger children remained at home with their mother. Over the next 10 years they had a further 4 children James Jnr 1893, Peter January 15th 1895, Frances 1899 and Veronica 1900. By 1901 James William had left home, however Cornelius (20), Ellen (16) and Francis 15) were now in full employment. Cornelius worked as a general labourer while his siblings were both employed at the woollen factory as spinners.
Having moved by 1901 into 4 rooms at 13, John Street, Darlington they were still there in 1911. Vincent was now the eldest of their children still living at home. His father James was now employed as a labourer by what is described as, “Municipal scavenging dept,” Vincent (22) worked at the forge as a blacksmith’s striker, James Jnr (18) an apprentice boiler smith, Peter (16) a general labourer at the iron foundry, Veronica (11) was a scholar.
Vincent was one of the first to enlist at Darlington, October 1st 1915, with the newly formed 22nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, a Pioneer Battalion made up of men trained to dig as well as fight. As Private 212 he joined his regiment training near home and was married during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1916 to Frances A. Johnson at Hartlepool where she was born in 1895.
Having been handed over to the War Office, March 9th 1916, the regiment departed March 22nd 1916 to Scotton Camp, Catterick and after intensive training departed to France June 16th 1916. They arrived in France during the run up to the Battle of the Somme, programmed to begin June 29th 1916 but delayed due to bad weather until July 1st. The 22nd Battalion D.L.I. joined the 8th Division July 2nd assigned to ferry supplies to the front line and the wounded back to the dressing station. During this work at La Boiselle 5 men became the first casualties of the battalion.
July 31st 1917 saw the commencement of the 3rd Battle of Ypres in Belgium, however, the 22nd Battalion D.L.I. had been working in the area all summer digging communication trenches and laying a light railway in preparation for the offensive, subjected to shell-fire and mustard gas attacks, costing the lives of some 100 men.
Private 212 Vincent Boylan Durham Light Infantry was killed in action July 6th 1917 and interred at Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery, grave I. A. 14. He was 28 years of age.
His widow Frances Ann received all monies due to him from the Army and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. She and James did not have any children.
Frances re-married at Darlington in 1918 to William Schofield.
James Boylan Snr died in 1921 aged 64 years, Anne Boylan nee Daley registered as Annie Boylan, aged 75 years in 1931, both registered in the district of Darlington County Durham.In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Vincent Aloysius Boylan is remembered at Darlington on D40.034 and D40.067
He is also remembered in he DLI Book of Remembrance page 174
