William Boulter

William Ewart Boulter
Born	14 October 1892 Wigston, Leicestershire, England
Died	1 June 1955 (aged 62) London, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Army
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	6th Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment
Battles / wars	World War I - First Battle of the Somme
Awards	Victoria Cross

William Ewart Boulter VC (14 October 1892 – 1 June 1955) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Boulter was 23 years old, and a sergeant in the 6th Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 14 July 1916 at Trones Wood, France, when one company and part of another was held up in the attack on a wood by a hostile machine-gun which was causing heavy casualties, Sergeant Boulter, with utter contempt of danger, and in spite of being wounded in the shoulder, advanced alone over open ground under heavy fire, in front of the gun and bombed the gun team from their position. This act not only saved many casualties, but materially helped the operation of clearing the enemy out of the wood.

He later achieved the rank of lieutenant. He was cremated at Putney Vale Crematorium.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Abington Park, Northampton, England.

References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• VCs of the First World War - The Somme (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)

External links

• Wigton Historical Society
• Location of grave and VC medal (S.W. London)