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(Corp) William Irving Boon

Corporal William Irving Boon 19955, aClerk from Murray Street, Albert Park, South Australia, prior to enlistment 11 November 1915 aged 24, he embarked with the Field Artillery Brigade 8, Battery 31 from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A7 Medic on 20 May 1916.

ID number     P11373.001
Collection     Photograph
Object type     Black & white - Print silver gelatin
Photographer     McGeehan, R W
Place made     Australia: Victoria, Melbourne, Ripponlea
Date made     c November 1915

Description

Studio portrait of members of 31st Battery, 8th Field Artillery Brigade. Identified, left to right, back row:

19955 Gunner (Gnr) William Irving Boon (later killed in action 24 April 1918);
20017 Corporal Sydney John Williams;
19983 Gnr George Daniel Goodale;
19949 Gnr Malcolm Cyril Arthur.

Second row:

28557 Gnr Richard Bestall Pounsett;
20044 Sergeant George Robert Harrison (later killed in action 20 October 1917);
20007 Gnr John William Robertson.

Gnr Robertson was a member of the 1914 season undefeated Port Adelaide Football Club team.

Front row:

19965 Gnr Howard Robert Carter; 20000 Gnr Aldred Mashford.

Today, we remember and pay tribute to Corporal William Irving Boon

Corporal William Irving Boon, 31st Battery, 8th Field Artillery Brigade. KIA 4 April 1918

Today we remember and pay tribute to Corporal William Irving Boon. William Irving Boon was born on 22 July 1891 in Queenstown, South Australia, to Isaac and Mary Boon. He grew up in the Albert Park area and attended Alberton Public School and later Muirdon College. He was also a chorister at St Margaret's Church in Woodville. After leaving school he was employed as a clerk with the Australian Implement Company and then the Savings Bank of South Australia. He became a well-known sportsman in South Australia. During the summer months, he played cricket for the Port Adelaide Cricket Club and in the winter played football for the Port Adelaide Magpies football club. In 1914 Boon was a member of the Magpies' premiership-winning team, which went through the season undefeated. They went on to defeat Victorian Football League premiers Carlton to become Australian champions. The 1914 team would later become known as "the Immortals". When the First World War began Boon tried twice to enlist for service in the AIF but was rejected both times on medical grounds. He tried again on 11 November 1915 and was accepted. Boon was initially allotted to the 10th Battalion, but in September was transferred to the reinforcement pool for artillery units. He was soon sent to Melbourne to join the newly raised 31st Battery of the 8th Field Artillery Brigade. In May 1916 he embarked aboard the transport ship Medic, and on arriving in England in July went into camp at Perham Downs.

Following a brief illness, Boon rejoined his unit and embarked for France. By the end of January 1917 the 31st Battery was in the Armentières sector. Boon's battery saw its first major action in May, when as part of the 3rd Division's artillery it supported the infantry attack on Messines. Later, Boon and his unit took part in the Third Battle of Ypres, and the battery moved to Zonnebeke in October to support the Australian attacks on Broodseinde Ridge and Poelcapelle. Later that year the battery moved to a quieter sector and spent time out of the line to rest. In early February 1918Boon was given a two-week leave pass to Paris. During this time he wrote what would be his final letter to his parents. When the German Spring Offensive began in late March 1918, the 31st Battery moved to the Somme and went into action near Radmines, later moving to new positions near Bonnay. On the morning of the 24th of April the Germans launched an attack, preceded by a fierce artillery barrage, on Villers-Bretonneux. The dugout in which Boon had been sleeping received a direct hit, killing him instantly. He was laid to rest in the Bonnay Communal Cemetery Extension.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 others from the First World War, and his photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Corporal William Irving Boon, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.

Story delivered 19 May 2014
Photograph: E01540
PAFU2014/178