Claude Oswald Boxsell

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sat, 10/09/2016 - 10:57

First Name:

Claude

Middle Name:

Oswald

Last Name:

Boxsell

Date of Birth:

Monday, August 12, 1895

Mother's Name:

Elizabeth Boxsell nee McLean

Father's Name:

Andrew Boxsell

Date Enlisted:

Monday, July 3, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

45th Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Thursday, June 7, 1917

Place of Death:

Messines, Belgium

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Claude Boxsell (Service No 2617) was born in Berry, N.S.W. in 1895.

Claude enlisted in Kiama, N.S.W. some months after his brother Thomas had enlisted. At enlistment, he was a single, 20 year old engineer.

He embarked on HMAT A40 Ceramic with 45th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement on 7th October 1916. Claude arrived in England on 21st November 1916, and joined 45th Battalion in France, on 18th January 1917.

He saw service on the Western Front, with 10 Platoon, C Company. On 7th June 1917, at Messines, Claude was going over the top of a trench to attack, when he was hit by a shell explosion and killed instantly.

Claude has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, Belgium.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, BOXSELL CLAUDE OSWALD