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John Boyd
| 4841 Pte. J. Boyd, Gordon Highlanders. India General Service Medal 1895 clasps Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98; Queen’s South Africa Medal clasps Cape Colony, Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laings Nek, Belfast; King’s South Africa Medal clasps South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; Delhi Durbar Medal 1911. |
Wounded in action Elandslaagte 21 October 1899.
With 21 photocopy pages of service documents. John Boyd enlisted at Ayr 21 July 1893 aged 19 years 1 month. Born Glasgow.
Occupation labourer. Medical history shows Boyd was treated for alcoholism and syphilis in 1898 and was accidentally wounded at
Umballa, India in 1899. Transferred to the Army Reserve at Aberdeen 17 December 1902. Conduct described as fair but since
November 1899 good. Re-engaged 29 October 1904. Discharged at Crownhill, Devon 20 July 1914 after 21 years service. Had a
total of 22 entries in the conduct sheets of which 17 were for drunkenness, two for unauthorised absences and one each for
creating a disturbance, gambling and improper conduct.
At Peshawar in 1905 he was caught stealing a quantity of beer from the Black Watch canteen. Conduct on final discharge
described as good and his character as “an honest, intelligent & industrious man. Very subordinate & an abstainer from tobacco”
but also “untrustworthy through drink”. Unsurprisingly he was not awarded an LS&GC medal. He intended to become a postman on
discharge but his CO did not recommend him for Post Office employment. Served in 1st Battalion in India and 2nd Battalion in
South Africa.
Although the Cape Colony and Orange Free State clasps are not confirmed on the QSA roll only four other men of the regiment (a
major, lieutenant, sergeant and private) are shown with this clasp combination. Boyd’s group was the subject of an article in the
June/July 2002 issue of ‘Medal News’.
With 21 photocopy pages of service documents. John Boyd enlisted at Ayr 21 July 1893 aged 19 years 1 month. Born Glasgow.
Occupation labourer. Medical history shows Boyd was treated for alcoholism and syphilis in 1898 and was accidentally wounded at
Umballa, India in 1899. Transferred to the Army Reserve at Aberdeen 17 December 1902. Conduct described as fair but since
November 1899 good. Re-engaged 29 October 1904. Discharged at Crownhill, Devon 20 July 1914 after 21 years service. Had a
total of 22 entries in the conduct sheets of which 17 were for drunkenness, two for unauthorised absences and one each for
creating a disturbance, gambling and improper conduct.
At Peshawar in 1905 he was caught stealing a quantity of beer from the Black Watch canteen. Conduct on final discharge
described as good and his character as “an honest, intelligent & industrious man. Very subordinate & an abstainer from tobacco”
but also “untrustworthy through drink”. Unsurprisingly he was not awarded an LS&GC medal. He intended to become a postman on
discharge but his CO did not recommend him for Post Office employment. Served in 1st Battalion in India and 2nd Battalion in
South Africa.
Although the Cape Colony and Orange Free State clasps are not confirmed on the QSA roll only four other men of the regiment (a
major, lieutenant, sergeant and private) are shown with this clasp combination. Boyd’s group was the subject of an article in the
June/July 2002 issue of ‘Medal News’.
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