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Auction: 24111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 225

(x) The 1914-15 Star awarded to Private W. H. Boyce, 3rd Canadian Infantry, who was taken prisoner of war during the Second Battle of Ypres

1914-15 Star (9868 Pte. W. H. Boyce. 3/Can. Infy:), polishing very fine

William H Boyce was born at Taunton, England on 18 February 1895 and enlisted on 22 September 1914. Posted to France in 1915 he was present for the Second Battle of Ypres which marked the first use of gas during the Great War. One the opening day of the Battle on 22 April a French-Moroccan unit stationed next to the Canadians was the first to be hit by the gas although it affected the Canadians as well in time.

The French were disorientated by the attack and could not stand up to the German Offensive which followed. Their flight left the Canadian flank open and the Division was forced to withdraw in the face of an encircling attack. The retreat was not without resistance with a stand being made around the village of St. Julien between 23-24 April before the line stabilised just to the south.

The 3rd Battalion suffered particularly heavily during the withdrawal being largely encircled and eventually forced to surrender. Boyce was posted as missing between 22-24 April making it likely that he was cut off on the first day of the Battle. Taken as a prisoner of war he was sent to the P.O.W. camp at Giessen near Frankfurt.

Surviving the war Boyce was repatriated on 8 December 1918 and sent to a rest camp. Returning to Canada on 29 March 1919 he was discharged at Toronto on 8 April 1919, sold together with copied service papers.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£45

Starting price
£20