WALTER BOYCE
Born: 1870, Walsoken, Norfolk.
Died: 22nd May 1901; age: 31; Died of Disease at Middelburg, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Residence: Walsoken, Norfolk.
Occupation: Porter.
Enlistment Location: Wisbech, Cambridgeshire; date: 25th January 1892. Next of Kin: brother – Alfred Boyce, of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 2133.
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Clasps Awarded: Cape Colony, Orange Free State & Transvaal + South Africa Clasp 1901.
CENSUS
1871 Walsoken, Norfolk.
Walter was 10 months old and living with his parents & siblings.
James Boyce, 60, a Sawyer, born Little Dunham, Norfolk.
Sophia Boyce (nee Norris), 48, born Spalding, Lincolnshire.
Elizabeth Boyce, 11, born Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.
James Norris Boyce, 9, born Wisbech.
Sophia Boyce, 7, born Walsoken.
Alfred Boyce, 5, born Walsoken.
Herbert Boyce, 3, born Walsoken.
1881 2, Tuxford Street, Walsoken, Norfolk.
Walter was 10 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
James, 70, a Sawyer.
Sophia, 55.
Sophia, 17, a General Domestic Servant.
Alfred, 15, General Servant – Domestic.
Herbert, 13.
1891 2, Witham Street, Walsoken, Norfolk.
Walter was 21 years old, a Deal Porter – Docks. He was living with his widowed mother.
Sophia, 68.
1 lodger & her two young children.
Walter’s mother, Sophia Boyce died 1897, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.
Soldiers’ Effects to brothers – Alfred & Herbert Boyce, sisters – Sophia & Elizabeth, sister-in-law – Mary Ann (widow of James Norris Boyce), nephews – Charles & William, and nieces Ethel & Edith.
One of the notable Battles with a large loss of Suffolk life was the “Battle of Suffolk hill” at Colesberg, Northern Cape 5th- 6th January 1900. The hill was originally called Red or Grassy Hill. The Suffolk regiment was ordered to make a night attack on a Boer position on the heights, four companies, 354 of all ranks, set out at midnight under the command of Col. Watson. The Suffolks were met by a storm of bullets. The Colonel was amongst the first to fall, and the party later retired with 11 officers and 150+ men killed, wounded or captured.
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