Gunner Edward Johnson Bolton

Edward Johnson Bolton enlisted the Royal Garrison Artillery on 10th November 1915, service number 89422. At enlistment he was 39 years of age, a gardener living at 65 Bulwer Road, Leicester, with his wife, Caroline Elizabeth (nee Sleet), and children Marion Elizabeth, Edna Caroline, and Frederick Edward. He was the son of Frederick George & Sarah Elizabeth Bolton of High Street, Kibworth Beauchamp.

He had Home Service from 9th November 1915 until 22nd November 1916 and was posted to 193rd Siege Battery when transferred to the British Expeditionary Force on 23rd November 1916, embarking Folkestone, disembarking Boulogne. Whilst fighting with the BEF he sustained an injury on 12th May 1917, rejoining his unit on 28th June 1917. From 2nd to 16th January 1918 he was on UK leave, rejoining his unit on 18th January. He was admitted to 13 (Harvard USA) General Hospital, Boulogne, with gun shot wounds, on 22nd July 1918, and died on 12th August 1918.

Bolton’s wife wrote to the War Office on 24th October 1918 asking why she had not been notified of her husband’s illness. The official reply, 28th October 1918, was that 3 telegrams had been forwarded to her old address but not returned by the Postal Authority. She wrote again on 22nd November 1918 regarding money difficulties. On 29th January 1919 she was awarded a weekly pension of £1. 5s. 5d (£1.27p) for herself and two children (Frederick had died on 3rd March 1918).

The following personal effects were returned to Caroline Bolton on 16th June 1919; 2 razors (in case), shaving brush, strop, and a razor (in case).

Gunner Bolton was awarded the British War and Victory Medals, and is buried at Terlincthun British Cemetery, Boulogne, Pas de Calais, France, plot II. B. 44.

Cap badge of the Royal Garrison Artillery