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Life Story

John Willie was born in 1890 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. His

father was John Boulger (a groom) born 1866 in Kildare in Ireland,

and he was working in Melton Mowbray when he met his wife Kate

(nee Gray) and they married in 1890 in Melton. George had a number

of siblings - James Edward, born 1895, George, born 1892, Thomas

born in 1898 and Dora, born 1899. In the March 1901 census the

family home is recorded as 2 Granby Terrace, Rutland Street, Melton

Mowbray. They later moved to 16 Cottesmore Avenue, in Melton

Mowbray, shown below. In April 1911 John was absent from the family

home at Cottesmore Avenue.

Military Career:

John rst entered the theatre of war

in France on the 13th July 1915

with the Royal Field Artillery as a

Gunner.

Unit War Diary, 24 May-17:

MONCHY LE PREUX. Lieutenant

Colonel CONNOLLY leaves to take

command of 162 Brigade ROYAL

FIELD ARTILLERY.

Major R. W. DUFF assumes command of 63rd Brigade, ROYAL FIELD

ARTILLERY.