Private John McDowell Boyd
John McDowell Boyd was born on 4 December 1889 at 35 Carnalea Street, Belfast, the first of thirteen children of labourer (later trade union official and councillor) Alexander Boyd and his wife Lizzie (née McDowell). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Ballygammon, Ballygomartin, Belfast, with his parents and ten surviving siblings (another would be born later that year), and working as a gas meter inspector, having served a six-year apprenticeship with the Belfast Corporation Gas Department. The family later moved to 97 Ormeau Road.
At some point between 1908 and 1910, according to later records, Boyd enlisted in the North Irish Horse, serving in A (Belfast) Squadron. After three and a half years he left the regiment and soon after emigrated to Australia.
On 18 August 1914 at Sydney Boyd enlisted in the 1st Division Signalling Company, Australian Imperial Force (No.70). He embarked for Egypt on 20 October 1914, where he remained until 2 October the following year, when he sailed for Anzac Cove, Gallipoli. There he fell ill and by 2 November was back in Alexandria.
On 21 March 1916 he embarked for France. He was disciplined for three offences in the second half of 1916.
On 26 May 1917 the Belfast Weekly Times reported that:
Sapper John Boyd, Australian Infantry, who has been wounded, is one of the four sons of ex-Councillor A. Boyd, 97 Ormeau Road, Belfast, who are serving King and country. [He was in fact sick, not wounded.]
On 26 September 1917 Boyd was awarded the Military Medal. His citation read:
From 16th to 22nd September, east of Hooge, this man acted as linesman during the recent operations. He showed continuous zeal and determination and bravery in maintaining these lines under the heavy shelling and barrages this Junction box was subjected to. It was mainly due to his work that messages were enabled to be handled quickly and correctly.
On 13 October 1918 Boyd embarked at Le Havre for Australia. He was discharged on 22 August 1919.
On 24 April 1920 he married Ethel Worrall at St John's Presbyterian Church, Paddington, Sydney. He died in Bankstown on 28 June 1954.
Three of Boyd's brothers, James, Alexander and Thomas, also served in the war.
I am grateful to Michael Nugent for pointing out this man's North Irish Horse connection. Image of Boyd sourced from Ancestry.com Public Member Trees – contributor 'shharris_1'.
This page last updated 15 September 2025.