Boylan - Aftermath
Regardless of which day Boylan was actually killed, his death was not immediately reported in local Irish newspapers. He appears in published casualty lists printed on 12 January 1915, based on casualties reported by the unit from 28 November 1914. The Belfast Newsletter lists “Boylan, 9107, Pte. R.” on a list of non-commissioned officers and men killed belonging to the Royal Irish Rifles; his rank (Pte., the British abbreviation for Private) and first initial are inaccurate, but his regimental number (9107) matches.1 His name was also printed in the Irish Examiner on the same day, again as part of a casualty list from 28 November: “Boylan, 9107, A.” Again, his rank was printed incorrectly; no rank was listed, but a note at the beginning of the casualty list informed readers that all men held the rank of private “unless otherwise stated.”2
His name was later included in a list of local soldiers’ deaths printed in the Westmeath Examiner on 7 October 1916, which refers to “Sergt. Anthony Boylan (of Gilliardstown [sic], Collinstown), Royal Irish Rifles. Killed in action in France.” It was reprinted 20 January 1917.3
His family would have been notified by the War Office by the end of 1914, likely around the time the casualty list was received. They would certainly have been informed prior to April 1915, as his August 1914 letter was sent to the War Office on 12 April 1915 and was provided by his family in lieu of a formal will. It seems that his body was never recovered, as his name is listed on the Le Touret Memorial in France for soldiers who have no known grave.4
In accordance with his letter in August 1914, his mother Mary Boylan received all remaining money and effects.5 From April 1915 she received a pension of more than £19, but it was halved to £8 in July 1919.6 She also received a pension as his dependent after the war; the pension amount was amended several times, but it appears that it was still being paid in the late 1920s and possibly into the 1930s.7
“The Expeditionary Force. Irish Regiments’ Severe Losses,” Belfast Newsletter, January 12, 1915. Accessible with a subscription through Irish News Archive.
“British Casualties,” Irish Examiner, January 12, 1915. Accessible with a subscription through Irish News Archive.
“Westmeath Heroes,” Westmeath Examiner, October 7, 1916. See also “Westmeath Heroes,” Westmeath Examiner, January 20, 1917. Accessible with a subscription through Irish News Archive.
“Serjeant Anthony Boylan,” Commonwealth War Graves, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/824359/anthony-boylan/.
Correspondence from Anthony Boylan to Mrs. Boylan, 1914, NAI/2002/119, Soldiers’ Wills, National Archives of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland. http://soldierswills.nationalarchives.ie/reels/sw/BoylanA_E62436.pdf.
“UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929,” 152868, digital image s.v. “Anthony Boylan,” Ancestry.com.
“UK, WWI Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923,” 13/D/4434, digital image s.v. “Anthony Beylan,” Fold3.com. See also “UK, WWI Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923,” 13/D/4434, DP/3/37374, digital image s.v. “Anthoney Boylan,” Fold3.com.