Hull Pals Memorial Post. PRIVATE, JOHN WILLIAM BOLDER 11/1136. Born in Hull, on 2nd July 1888. John was the second of nine children and eldest son of Joseph (1863-1912) and Annie Bolder (1862-1941), of 86, Subway Street, Hessle Road, Hull and 4, Salford Avenue, Manchester Street, Hull (War Pension address). When he was born, his father, Joseph, was 24 and his mother, Annie, was 25. He had three brothers and five sisters. He was 5 foot, 2 inches tall, 27-29 inch chest, Tattoos on both arms.
One of the Originals, John was a Fish Porter on the docks before the war, but enlisted at Hull City Hall, on 12/12/1914. He served in the 11th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, ‘The Tradesmen’, 2nd Hull Pals. A member of ‘A’ Company John was a veteran of Egypt, the Somme and Oppy Wood, but his luck ran out on 28th March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive.
At least he received a proper burial, something of a rarity for those desperate days when the British Army had been forced into retreat and the dead were left in its wake. John William Bolder is buried at Benvillers Military Cemetery; he was 29 years old. His grave inscription, reads, “HE BRAVELY FOUGHT AND DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE. ONE OF THE BEST. MOTHER, SISTERS & BROTHERS”
