Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Percy Herbert Boyd was born on 26 October 1883 at Avoca, Victoria, Australia, the third son of Thomas Henry and Mary Catherine (Kate, née Thompson) Boyd. Percy married Ellen Wilson in 1915 at Waimate, South Canterbury. Their first child, Leslie Herbert Boyd, was born on 3 August 1915 at Waimate. Eight more were to follow.

Percy was a farm labourer when his name was drawn in the fifth ballot. He had been ten years in New Zealand when he enlisted on 26 March 1917 at Waimate and had served with the Volunteers until disbandment. A contractor at Waimate, he named his wife as next-of-kin – Mrs Ellen Boyd, Merry Street, Waimate.

P. H. Boyd was one of the eleven men on the express when it arrived at Timaru in late May 1917 from Waimate, to proceed with the South Canterbury quota of the 30th Reinforcements. The men had been entertained at luncheon at Waimate. “A large crowd gathered at the railway station to bid the men farewell. The men are apparently not very keen on send-offs as only about half of them turned up at the station, the others joining the train at Studholme.” The Mayor farewelled the men, and expressed the confidence of all that they would do their duty nobly, and trusted they would return safe to those dear to them. A selection was played by the band as the train left the station to the accompaniment of hearty cheers.

In June 1917 before the Military Service Board, “Percy Herbert Boyd, Wannate, who appeared in uniform, applied for leave without pay, or to be put in the Second Division. He was married and had a wife and child and liabilities which he could not meet unless he were given time. He had married two years ago when there was no warning of conscription. In addition to his wife and child he had also to support his mother. He was quite willing to go with the first section of the Second Division. He had put in an application for financial assistance to the Government a month ago, but had received no reply yet. All his wife and child would have lo live upon would be what he could allot them out of his military pay, and when she paid her debts she would be penniless. If he were given time he could earn enough to pay all his liabilities. — Major Gresson said he did not think the man could keep his wife on the military pay. — The case was gone into in detail, and it was decided to recommend that he be given financial assistance, leave of absence from camp to he given while his case is being dealt with.” At the July hearing, “The appeal of Percy Herbert Boyd, contracting well-sinker, Waimate, who had been granted financial assistance, was dismissed, but time until August 20 was allowed.”

Percy Herbert Boyd died on 11 April 1961 at Wakari Hospital, Dunedin, and was cremated at Andersons Bay, Dunedin. His ashes were interred at Waimate Old Cemetery. Ellen died in 1983 at Ross Home, Dunedin and her ashes were interred with Percy’s. His brother, Thomas Harold Boyd, also enlisted with the New Zealand Forces.

Sources

Waimate Daily Advertiser, 14 March 1917, 25 May 1917, 21 June 1917, Timaru Herald, 29 May 1917, Sun, 18 July 1917 (Papers Past); [04, 07 & 15 October 2021]; Andersons Bay Dunedin Crematorium records (Dunedin City Council) [15 October 2021]; Waimate Old Cemetery burial records [15 October 2021]

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