Myles Boddington MC

Rank:Captain
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:06th Bn
Name of Rgt or Ship:King's Shropshire Light Infantry
Died:01/07/1916Age:25
How Died:Killed in Action
Country of burial:BelgiumGrave Photo:Yes
Cemetery or Memorial:Vlamertinghe Cemetery, Ypres
Town Memorial:Not Listed
Extra Information:
Born at Eccles during the September quarter 1891, the 5th son of William
Slater & Mary Boddington (nee Walker).  Undoubtedly born at Monton House
where the family was residing in 1891.

1901 Census - Monton House, Monton Road, Eccles.   Son - aged: 9 - born:
Eccles, Lancashire.   Head of household - William S. Boddington - Married -
aged: 47 - occ: Solicitor - born: Manchester.   Also Mary Boddington - Wife
- aged: 43 - born: Eccles.   Plus 2 siblings and 6 domestic servants.  
William Slater was a Director at Boddington's Brewery, Strangeways,
Manchester.

His father - William Slater Boddington, died in 1908, aged: 54.  His death
was registered in the Runcorn R.D. so the family must have moved to
Thelwall prior to 1908.

1911 Census - "Highfields", Thelwall, near Warrington, Cheshire.   Son -
aged: 19 - occ: Undergraduate at Oxford University - born: Eccles.    Head
of household - Mary Boddington - Widow - aged: 53 - born: Eccles.   Plus 3
siblings and 5 domestic servants.    His elder brother - Gilbert Boddington
was recorded as a "Brewer", presumably at Boddington's Brewery,
Strangeways, Manchester.

The youngest son, he was born at Monton House, Eccles in 1891.  His father
was a Director of a local brewery firm.   He was a good singer and piano
player.   Educated at the Abbey School, Beckenham & at Shrewsbury School,
then the University College, Oxford, where he was Choregus and gained a
Bachelor of Arts degree in 1913.  At the time war broke out he was articled
to Alfred Whitworth, Solicitors, Manchester.    

He enlisted and obtained a commission in September 1914; he went to the
front in July 1915 and was promoted Captain in November 1915.   In the
King's Birthday Honours List 1916, he was awarded the M.C.   The 6th Bn
K.S.L.I. was part of the 60th Brigade, 20th (Light) Division.  They landed
at Boulogne on the 22nd July 1915; they fought at Loos in September 1915
and in the Ypres area in 1916 before eventually going down to the Somme in
late July 1916.

I can find no evidence of the 6th Bn K.S.L.I. being involved in the 1st day
of the Battle of the Somme 1916 and were not involved until late July when
they took part in the capture of Guillemont.

I think that it has been assumed that as Myles was killed on the 1st July
1916 that he must have been involved in the first day of the Battle of the
Somme 1916.    But he is buried to the west of Ypres, Belgium where the
Battalion was stationed before later traveling south to the Somme.   CWGC
inform that two Captains (Myles being one of them) and five privates from
the 6th Bn K.S.L.I. were killed that day and all are buried in Vlamertinghe
Cemetery, Ypres.

M.I. - "The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God". 

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1917.


Memorials found on:
St. Mary's (Bowdon)
Altrincham & District Roll of Honour
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