Lieutenant William Boyd

 

William Boyd was born on 4 November 1883 at Ballyblack, Newtownards, County Down, the second of ten children of farmer Anthony Boyd and his wife Sarah (née Patton).

After being educated at the Newtownards Model School and Hughes Academy in Belfast, Boyd was employed as a clerk by the Ulster Bank, working at a number of branches over the following years. At the time of the 1901 Census he was living at 4.1 Victoria Street, Ballymoney, in 1911 at 4 Brookhill Avenue Belfast, and in 1914 at Ballyhaskin, Millisle, County Down.

Boyd enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron on 19 October 1914 (No. UD/54). He was appointed squadron accountant on 21 October (reverting to private on 30 November) and lance corporal on 3 May 1915.

On 6 October 1915 he embarked for France with his squadron, which was then serving as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division.

In June 1916 the Inniskilling squadron joined with C and F Squadrons of the North Irish Horse to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps.

After being promoted to corporal on 18 December 1916, on 26 February 1917 Boyd applied for a commission in the cavalry. He returned to the UK on 26 April and on 13 July reported for duty at the No.2 Cavalry Cadet School at Kildare.

Boyd was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant on 15 December 1917 and posted to the 2nd Reserve Regiment of Hussars at the Curragh. He was later attached to the 7th (Queen's Own) Hussars, serving in the Mesopotamian Theatre, including at the Baqutah Refugee Camp north of Bagdad.

He was promoted to lieutenant on 15 June 1919 and relinquished his commission on 17 May 1920.

Boyd subsequently returned to work at the bank, retiring as a bank manager. He died at his home, Beechlea, Whitehouse Park, Belfast, on 24 December 1957.

 

This page last updated 8 February 2023.