James's Story.
James Boyers lived with his parents at Percival Road, Runcorn until they moved to Litherland. James joined up at the start of the war in the Engineers, sent out on August 19th 1915, which was his 19th birthday. He had only been at the front for a month when he was killed at the battle of Loos. He had been dead for over 9 weeks before his parents learnt of his death. Their letters being returned marked "In hospital, Present location unknown.James was of a bright, jolly disposition, and a big muscular young fellow. He was an old scholar of the Parish Church and Balfour Road Schools, and captained the latter's football team when, in 1909. they won the shield presented by the Runcorn Football Club. Later he was employed in the Bridgewater department of the Manchester Ship Canal. A letter received from a comrade (Private W. Bignall, of Norfolk street) tells how Pioneer Boyers was killed: " We were putting barbed wire up on the newly-taken trenches when Jim was hit. Myself and Tommy Littlemore went to try and see him, but were told he had been taken on the field ambulance with the A.S.C. Next time we went they told us he was buried. I mentioned it to our officer, and he said he was very sorry, as he was such a good worker and a jolly lad. All the company join in sympathy. We must know he died as a soldier, doing his duty for King and country."
His brother,Gunner Sam Boyers was at Boulogne in hospital, having been wounded. He enlisted in the Garrison Artillery soon after the war started, and went to France on Whit-Saturday. He was hit on the leg. His relatives had heard that his legs had been taken and were glad to get a cheery letter contradicting this, Gunner Boyers had for eleven years been employed by the M.S.C. Company. There are twenty near relatives of the two brothers in H.M. Forces. One is wounded, another 'down with dysentery, a cousin (Private J. Lyon) has been killed, and there are two cousins prisoners in Germany.
James final resting place is unknown, and he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.
Compiled by Graeme Ainsworth with extracts from the 3rd Dec 1915 Runcorn Weekly News.