Author: Edwin Habben O.A.M. R.F.D.
Lieutenant Alfred Gordon Boughen, the son of George Boughen and Kate Boughen (nee Tanner), was born at Rosewood in Queensland on 11th August 1895. At the age of 19 years and 10 months he voluntarily enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Brisbane in Queensland on 7th July 1915 after swearing the statutory oath that he would serve for the duration of the war and an additional four months. At the time of enlistment he was unmarried and employed as a Farmer. He had previously served as a Second Lieutenant in Senior Cadets for 18 months and for 18 months in the Citizen Military Forces with the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery. His physical description at the time of his enlistment was that he was 5 feet 10 inches in height and weighed 156 pounds. He had a medium complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He stated that he was of the Church of England religion. He gave his next of kin as his father, Mr George Boughen, residing at “Bremerwell”, Rosewood, Queensland.
Lieutenant Alfred Boughen was allocated to the 1st Siege Artillery (Heavy) Brigade on 7th July 1915 with the rank of Gunner and allotted the regimental number of 409. The Artillery Brigade had been formed in Victoria during April 1915. He embarked for overseas service with the Australian Imperial Force on His Majesty’s Australian Transport A67 “Orsova” from the port of Melbourne in Victoria on 17th July 1915. Whilst serving with the 36th Heavy Artillery Group He was appointed to the temporary rank of Acting Bombardier on 5th January 1916.
Australian War Memorial photograph E04736
Gunners of an Australian Siege Artillery Battery loading a Howitzer gun.
Lieutenant Alfred Boughen was appointed to the rank of Acting Bombardier on 1st December 1916 and promoted to the rank of Bombardier on 16th December 1916. Whilst serving with the 54th Siege Battery he was granted leave to England during the period 1st February until 14th February 1917. He was promoted to the rank of Temporary Corporal on 16th May 1917 and reverted to the rank of Bombardier on 1st August 1917. He was again promoted to the rank of Temporary Corporal on 2nd September 1917. He was granted leave to England during the period 18th December 1917 until 4th January 1918. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal on 6th January 1918 and to the rank of Temporary Sergeant on 30th March 1918.
Lieutenant Alfred Boughen was detached for duty at the Artillery School during the period 2nd June until 16th June 1918. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on 30th June 1918. Whilst serving in France he suffered gas poisoning at La Motte in July 1918. He was selected to attend the No. 1 Royal Garrison Artillery Cadet School at Trowbridge in England on 18th July 1918 to undergo a course of instruction and he disembarked at Folkestone on 19th July 1918. He was granted leave during the period 30th July until 5th August 1918 prior to commencing his course of instruction. He commenced his course at the Cadet School on 20th September 1918. Upon completion of his course he was granted leave during the period 2nd November until 10th November 1918 and again during the period 18th December until 3rd January 1919. He left the Cadet School on 3rd January 1919 and joined the Australian Infantry Force Headquarters in London.
Lieutenant Alfred Boughen embarked for overseas service in France from the port of Southampton on 20th January 1919 and joined the Australian General Base Depot at Havre. He left the Base Depot on 22nd January 1919 and joined the 22nd Battery of the 36th Heavy Artillery Brigade in the field on 25th January 1919. He was appointed as a Probationary Second Lieutenant on 2nd February 1919 and transferred to the Siege Artillery Reinforcements. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 5th April 1919. He left his unit in France on 1st May 1919 and arrived at Folkestone in England on the following day. He was granted leave with pay by the Australian Imperial Force Headquarters in London during the period 6th May until 6th August 1919 to enable him to undertake non-military employment in motor engineering with Beach Brothers Engineers at Taunton in Somerset. He joined No. 2 Group at Sutton Veny Camp on 21st August 1919.
Lieutenant Alfred Boughen was granted leave without pay during the period 3rd September until 7th October 1919 for family reasons at Maxwell Street, Rowbaiton, Taunton, Somerset. Alfred Boughen married Laura Sheppard, a spinster, at St Andrew’s Church, Somerset, on 10th September 1919. He and his wife left England to return to Australia on the ship “Marathon” on 7th November 1919 and he disembarked from the ship at Sydney in New South Wales on 1st January 1920. His appointment in the Australian Imperial Force was terminated on 12th February 1920. He was placed on the Reserve of Officers list as a Second Lieutenant on 1st January 1921. For his service during World War 1, Arthur Boughen was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His name is commemorated locally on the Rosewood Honour Board, the Rosewood State School Honour Board and the St Luke’s Church Rosewood Honour Board.
Notes:
The 1922 Commonwealth Electoral Roll shows an Alfred Gordon Henry Boughen, occupation Farmer, residing at Toowoomba Road, Rosewood.
After the war Alfred Boughen worked at the Shell Depot/Roma Motors.
Alfred Boughen’s parents raised a family of three children. Their names and the year their births were registered are: Walter George Boughen, 1893; Susan Kathleen Boughen, 1894; and Alfred Gordon Boughen, 1895.
