Born in 1897 at Sunderland. 1901: With his mother Mary and aunt Ethel Hudson at 36 Abingdon Street Sunderland. In 1911 he was a pupil at the Cleobury Mortimer Commercial College at Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire.
The Army records his private residence as being in South Woodford when he enlisted.
On 21st March 1914 Light Division who were newly arrived from Ypres, were in the line from north of Moy de L’Aisne to the west of Itancourt when the Germans launched their Spring Offensive, overran the front line and pushed through to the ground beyond. The Battle of St. Quentin had begun. By evening the Division had been withdrawn to hold a new defensive line at the Crozat Canal between Liez and Jussy. The war diary captures the desperate nature of the fighting:-
“The Battalion was positioned north of Jussy on the canal bank covering a stretch of about 2,700 yards, “with "A" Coy on right, "C" Coy centre, "D" Coy left with "B" Coy in Reserve at Flavy le Martel. In touch on the left with the 20th Division and on the right with 5th Lancers and 43rd Infantry Brigade. Enemy appears at about 7am. Two platoons of "B" (Reserve) Coy brought into front line between "C" and "D" Coy's, other two platoons take up position along Chateau Road. At 9am enemy patrol attempted to cross canal but driven off. Enemy put down a heavy machine gun barrage all day, especially down Chateau Road and enfilading Canal Bank. During the afternoon enemy artillery shelled area between Canal Bank and Flavy. Heavy casualties to Battalion sustained. At dusk enemy attempted to cross canal in force, but were driven off by "D" Coy with Lewis guns. Enemy sustained heavy casualties. About midnight enemy patrol crossed canal, three of this patrol captured, remainder killed.”
Although the Germans had been held with heavy casualties, the fighting was also taking a toll on 8 Rifle Brigade. It was recorded that 9 Rifle Brigade (Reserve) was sent up to reinforce the 41st Infantry Brigade with the object of relieving the strain on the 8th Rifle Brigade who had suffered terrific casualties. The Germans attacked again on 23rd March 1918, and by 07.30 they had forged the canal between St. Simon and Jussy. The British line was forced back again, but Gordon Boughton remained behind. He had been Killed in Action during fighting that day.
Essentially, 8 Rifle Brigade was no longer an effective fighting unit, and had to be reconstituted using men from other Battalions. On 1st March 1918 the Battalion reported a fighting strength of 16 Officers and 354 Other Ranks. On 31st March 1918, after taking account of casualties, they reported 5 Officers and 27 Other Ranks.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com
War Diary