Charles Boiling was born in January 1896 the second of eight children born to Charles and Agnes Boiling of 11 Park Street Thame and he was baptised at St Mary’s on 6 February 1896.  Aged 15 in 1911 he was working as a farm labourer.

Charlie’s service records survive, if a little singed round the edge, and from them we learn that Charlie joined the Oxf & Bucks Light Infantry on 14 December 1914 at Oxford.  He served in England until 20 September 1915 when he was sent to France with the 7th Battalion and on 16 November 1915 the battalion was sent to fight in Salonica.  Records show that Charlie was wounded in the right thigh and left leg on 18 August 1916 and was medically evacuated back to England on 19 October 1916.

At his medical discharge board in December 1917, he wrote “would like to learn a trade that did not entail walking”.  He was finally discharged on 28 January 1918 and his silver war badge issued on 31 January 1918.  His character reference on discharge was excellent saying he was reliable, trustworthy and always willing and hardworking.

He returned to the family home now 5 Chinnor Road Thame, but unfortunately his mother Agnes was buried in November 1918 age just 46 yrs.  His father Charles survived to age 68, only dying in 1939.

Charlie died in Oxford Infirmary on 24 December 1920 from TB and was buried in the churchyard at St Mary’s 5 days later.

Charlie is remembered in Thame in the war memorial and on St Mary’s church memorial board; his grave is marked with a modern stone similar to those used by CWGC.