Shot Resisting Arrest
Private Ambrose Edward Boyles 712750 enlisted March 8, 1916 Summerside, Prince Edward Island, 105th Battalion. Eighteen years of age standing 5′ 9″ tall with dark complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His elder cousin Thomas Albert Boyles 712757 signed up four days previously.
Private Ambrose Edward Boyles
Ambrose born August 15, 1897 at Miminegash, Prince Edward Island. Son of Bertram and Jennie Boyles, of Elmsdale, Prince Edward Island.
105th Battalion (Prince Edward Island Highlanders)
Organized in November 1915 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel A. E. Ings. Mobilized at Charlottetown and recruited in Prince Edward Island. Embarked from Halifax 16 July 1916 aboard EMPRESS OF BRITAIN. Disembarked England 25 July 1916. With a strength of 37 officers, 1087 other ranks. Drafts of 140 to 13th Battalion and 60 to 25th Battalion in November 1916 (Pvt Boyles included in this draft).
Private Ambrose Edward Boyles
Pvt Boyles arrived in England on 25 July 1916 aboard SS EMPRESS OF BRITAIN and assigned to the 13th Battalion in November 1916.
13th Battalion
13th Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) organized in Valcartier Camp in September 1914 composed of recruits from Montreal, and initially commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel F. O. W. Loomis. Embarked Quebec 25 September 1914 aboard ALAUNIA, and later disembarked in England 16 October 1914 with a strength of 45 officers, 1110 other ranks.
The 13th Battalion disembarked in France 16 February 1915 with the 1st Canadian Division, 3rd Infantry Brigade, and later reinforced by 20th Canadian Reserve Battalion. Pvt Boyles ToS in the field, 13 Battalion, 4 December 1916.
Refusing to Obey an Order
Private Ambrose Edward Boyles sentenced to 15 Days FP No. 1 for WOAS refusing to obey an order, 20 March 1917.
Private Ambrose Edward Boyles
Admitted to No. 7 Conv Depot (diarrhoea), Boulogne, 22 April 1917. Discharged to Rest Camp, 28 April 1917, and returned to his unit on 14 May 1917 and immediately assigned to 1st Entrenching Battalion.
Private Ambrose Edward Boyles granted 14 days leave to Paris in December 1918. Upon returning to his unit in January 1918, placed under stoppages of pay to make good the cost of his kit which he had lost.
Reported Missing
While A & B Companies in the front line, Pvt Boyles wounded and reported missing, 30 August 1918. The Medical Officer reported wounded, and remained at duty. Boyles now reported safe, 23 September 1918, the same day HMK awarded the Victoria Cross to Corporal H J Good 1145120, D Company for actions at Hangard Wood on 5 August 1918. Whatever his excuse, Boyles’ record shows no reprimand.
Private Ambrose Edward Boyles participated in the March to the Rhine and the Allied Occupation of Germany. It was at Cologne, only two days into the occupation, that Pvt Boyles had had enough of war.
Absent from Guard Duty
At Cologne, Private Ambrose Edward Boyles absent from guard duty 11h00 15 December 1918 to 07h00 16 December 1918. Forfeits 1 Days Pay and sentenced to 10 days FP No. 1.
The 13th Battalion continued to guard war materials at Cologne.
Refusing to Obey an Order
On 21 December 1918, Pvt Boyles sentenced to 24 days FP No 1, to run consecutively with previous award of 10 days for WOAS refusing to obey an order.
Presentation of Colours
The presentation of Colours by H.R.H. Prince Arthur of Connaught marked the end of the 13th Battalion’s stay in Germany. Parading on the following morning, January 5th, the Royal Highlanders of Canada marched to Bensburg, but Pvt Boyles not among them.
Liège
On February 3rd, a Composite Company, including in its ranks picked men from every section of the 13th Battalion, entrained at Huy. They proceeded to Liège to take part in a great review. The salute on this occasion taken by Lieut.-Gen. Jacques, K.C.M.G., of the Belgian Army, who afterwards expressed to Major-Gen. Sir A. C Macdonell, IC.C.B., C.Af.G., D.S.O., G.O.C, the 1st Canadian Division, his pride in having had this honour. General Jacques stated that in his opinion the march past of the troops was “magnificent.”
Somewhat later in the month the Composite Company, which was under the command of Major J. D. Macpherson, M.C, paraded together with the Pipe Band and Colour Party. Then, proceeded to Huy, where an inspection of the Canadian Corps held by Lieut.-Gen. Orth, K.CAf.G., Chief of the Belgian Mission at British G.H.Q. General Orth, who was accompanied by many of the senior Canadian officers, took the opportunity to present the Belgian Croix de Guerre to a number of men who had won this decoration in the field. Amongst these was Sergt. D. K. Miller, of the 13th Battalion.
Married Men Return
On the afternoon of February 22nd the first definite step towards demobilization taken. A party of married men, whose dependents in the Old Country wished to return to Canada with them, said good-bye to the Battalion and proceeded to England. On the following day Major I. M. R. Sinclair, D.S.O., M.C, assumed command of the Battalion in place of Lieut.-Col. K.- M. Perry, D.S.O., who was leaving to attend the Staff College at Camberley.
31 January 1919. MIKAN No. 3522606
Meanwhile the Transport, which had been a source of pride to the Battalion, being broken up. The horses taken over by representatives of the Belgian Government and the wagons turned in to the Ordnance Corps. By the 25th of the month all that remained was the Afedical Officer’s cart and one rather dilapidated G.S. wagon. Another step towards demobilization taken when Major J. D. Macpherson, M.C, Major F. S. Mathewson and Capt. A. W. Appleton appointed to audit all Regimental accounts.
Broken Fingers
Absent since 5 January 1919, Pvt Boyles has a change of heart and surrenders to authorities at Duren and placed under guard by Imperial troops, 2 March 1919. The same day while under guard, Private Boyles accidentally breaks his fingers during a fall. Admitted to No. 11 Stationary Hospital, Duren. Several witnesses at an inquiry confirm the fall accidental.
Escapes
On 5 March 1919, Private Ambrose Boyles has another change of heart, and disappeared from hospital. Meanwhile in Belgium, the Battalion, plus “E” Coy. composed of several small groups from other units in the 1st Division, would entrain and left for Havre on March 8th.
Shot Resisting Arrest
On 24 May 1919, Private Boyles apprehended near Duren. Resisting arrest, his own revolver turned against him and he was shot in the chest. He died the following day at No. 11 Stationary Hospital, Duren. Buried at Cologne Southern Cemetery, 55 km east of Duren. Ambrose the final Canadian casualty buried at Cologne during the Allied Occupation of Germany. Other graves added from surrounding cemeteries during the concentration of graves period by the IWGC.
Forty CEF and five RNR, mostly prisoners of war, buried during the war at Cologne Southern Cemetery. Private C J Knott went missing 14 April 1917, and reported as a PoW on 28 April 1917. He died of his wounds (GSW lung) at Reserve Lazarette, Mulhelm, Ruhr, Rheinland, Germany, 2 May 1917.
Ambrose’s cousin Pvt Thomas Albert Boyles had returned to Canada in December 1918. He died 10 December 1969.
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