BORN HULL 03/06/1894. BAPTISED AT ST CHARLES BORROMEO, HULL, ON 17/06/1894. HIS PARENTS HAD MARRIED AT THE SAME CHURCH.
SON OF ANN GODFREY (1856-1936) & THE LATE JOHN BOLAND (1850-1896), OF 3, EBOR PLACE, PORTLAND STREET, HULL. (WAR PENSION & HULL DAILY MAIL ADDRESS – 22/06/1917). HE HAD TWO BROTHERS AND TWO SISTERS. BEFORE THE WAR HE WAS AN ASSISTANT GROCER.
HE ENLISTED INTO THE EYR ON 31/08/1914 AND WAS ONE OF COLONEL SHAW’S ORIGINAL ‘FIGHTING FOURTHS’ THAT WENT TO FRANCE IN APRIL 1915. HE WAS WOUNDED THREE TIMES AT THE FRONT. HE RETURNED TO HIS UNIT IN JANUARY 1917 FROM HOSPITAL IN ABERDEEN, BUT AS A RESULT OF HIS WOUNDS, DEVELOPED PNEUMONIA AND DIED ON THE 23/05/1917. HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HULL AND A MEMORIAL SERVICE WAS HELD AT ST PATRICK’S CHURCH. HE WAS BURIED IN HEDON ROAD CEMETERY, AGED 22. HIS TWO BROTHERS CONTINUED TO SERVE IN FRANCE. JOSEPH BOLAND’S DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL ON THE 31ST MAY 1917 WITH HIS PHOTOGRAPH. * HE IS REMEMBERED ON THE HULL BOYS CLUB MEMORIAL, ROPER STREET AND ON ST CHARLES BORROMEO CHURCH MEMORIAL, JARRATT STREET, HULL. HIS TWO ELDER BROTHERS ALSO SERVED IN THE WAR.
Transcription of Hull Daily Mail of 31 May 1917 (accompanies photograph) “Corporal Joseph Boland, East Yorks. Regiment., one of the original Fighting Fourths, who has died. Deceased, who was 22 years of age, joined the Colours on Aug. 31st 1914, and in April, 1915, went with the late Colonel Shaw to France and was wounded on three occasions, the last being in November, 1916. He was then sent to hospital in Aberdeen, but in January re-joined his unit. As a result of his wounds he developed pneumonia and died on May 23rd 1917. His remains were escorted to Hull by his comrades with whom he fought in France. On Tuesday, May 29th, the body was taken to St. Patrick’s Church, where a Requiem Mass was celebrated by the Reverend, Fr. Barry. The interment took place with full military honours at Hedon-Road Cemetery. In a letter to the mother of deceased, Lieut.-Colonel Arthur Easton wrote: He was liked by everyone, and was most popular. He did his duty nobly when in France and at home. His two older brothers are at present serving in France.”
