Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
Edward Henry Bovill was born in April 1887 in Betchworth, Surrey to corn dealer John Henry and Mary Constance (nee Brock) Bovill.
At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived at Broome Cottage, Reigate Road, Betchworth. John was a corn dealer and Mary was at home. The household further comprised of their children: Mabel, Evelyne, Norah and Edward. The family was looked after by a cook, parlourmaid, housemaid and two nurses.
At the time of the 1901 Census, Edward was a boarder and pupil of schoolmaster Edward H. Alington at Mayfield, Oxford.
At the time of the 1911 Census, Mary and her son, corn merchant, Edward lived at Broome Perrow, Buckland, Betchworth. The household further comprised of Mary’s niece Constance Mary Brock. The family was looked after by a cook, parlourmaid, lady maid and two housemaids. Mary stated that she had given birth to five children. The house had twenty rooms.
Edward was educated at Summer Fields, Oxford; Harrow School and Pembroke College, Cambridge.
Edward Bovill enlisted in 1916 into the 16th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles). He disembarked on 4th March 1916 in France.
Bovill – Killed in action, on July 1st, Sec. Lieut, Edward Henry Bovill, Queen’s Westminster Rifles, elder and only surviving son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Henry Bovill, Betchworth, aged 29.
Edward Bovill Death Notice 15th July 1916 © Dorking Advertiser findmypast.co.uk
Edward was killed in action on 1st July 1916 at Gommecourt, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in France.
SECOND-LIEUT. EDWARD BOVILL
For the second time this year the sympathy of the village of Buckland has been evoked for Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Bovill of Broome Perrow, Buckland, Betchworth, whose son, Second Lieutenant Edward Bovill, was killed in action on July 1st. It was only in January last that his younger brother, Second Lieutenant Eric Bovill, of the 6th Dragoon Guards (Caribiniers), met a soldier’s death in the trenches in France.
Edward Bovill Death Notice 15th July 1916 © Dorking Advertiser findmypast.co.uk
Second-Lieut, Edward Henry Bovill, Queen’s Westminster Rifles, was the elder and surviving son of Mr. and Mrs. Bovill. He was born in April in 1887, and was educated at Summer Fields, Oxford, Harrow and Pembroke College, Cambridge. He had been with his regiment at the Front since last March, and was with it up to his death. His Colonel wrote: “After the early morning of Saturday last he was one of the very few officers left in this battalion, and though wounded in that early morning, he most gallantly led and stayed with his men the whole day. He bore himself all that day as what he was, a very gallant gentleman”. One of his brother officers wrote: “He led the —- Platoon of —- Company, and penetrated as far into the German trenches as anyone, one though wounded, went on still leading what was left of his platoon, and was seen fighting will the upmost bravery in the third German line, firing his revolver, and throwing bombs. I believe his platoon would have followed him anywhere.”
A memorial service is to be held at Buckland Church on Sunday afternoon at 3.15.
Edward Bovill Death Notice 15th July 1916 © Dorking Advertiser findmypast.co.uk
Second Lieutenant Bovill is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing on Pier and Face: 13 C. His body was never found.
He received the British War and Victory medals.
He left just under £33,000 to Merric Warren Bovill.
Edward also left a codicil in the form of a letter written to his father from the front: “In case I am killed, I want to give the parish of Buckland a new organ. I want a good one put in, so, please spend up to £511 on it. If necessary, spend another £500 on it”. (1916 Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser)
Edward’s first cousin Captain Olaf Ransome Cuthbert of the Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment was killed on the same day.
In 1916 the Bovill family lived at Broome Perrow in Buckland, Surrey.
Edward Bovill’s father John later lived in Pratsham, Holmbury St Mary, near Dorking, Surrey.
Bovill Family History
Edward’s father John Henry was born on 1st June 1851 in Epsom, Surrey to corn merchant John Edward Bovill Esq., born about 1820 in London, Middlesex and Priestly Mary Bovill, born about 1829 in Farnham, Surrey. The family lived at Sondes Place, Dorking, Surrey. John was baptised on 15th July 1851 at St Martin’s church in Buckland, Surrey.
His mother Mary Constance Brock was born about 1852 to the Rector of St Peter in the Wood, Carey, born about 1824 and Elizabeth Georgina Baynes, born about 1828, all in St Peter Port, Guernsey. Mary was baptised in 1852 at St Peter in the Wood’s church in Guernsey.
John and Mary married on 17th February 1881 at the Parish Church of St Pierre-du-bois, Guernsey. The bride wore a dress of ivory satin, trimmed with lace and orange flowers, and a tulle veil over a wreath of orange blossom and myrtle. (1881 The Star – Saint Peter Port, Guernsey)
Edward had four siblings: Mabel Constance born in the 1st quarter of 1882 in Kensington, London; Evelyn Mary born in the 2nd quarter of 1884; Norah Frances born in the 2nd quarter of 1885; and John Eric born in the 1st quarter of 1894, all in Betchworth, Surrey.
At the time of the 1901 Census, Edward’s family lived at The Village, Broome Cottage, Betchworth. John Henry was a corn dealer and Mary was at home. The household further comprised of their children: Mabel and John and a visitor, governess, Edith. L. Wayte. The family was looked after by a parlourmaid, housemaid and a kitchen maid.
| Born | Betchworth, Surrey | |
| Lived | Betchworth, Surrey | |
| Son of | John and Mary (nee Brock) Bovill of ‘Broome Perrow’ Buckland, Surrey | |
| Brother of | John Eric Bovill | |
| Regiment | Queen’s Westminster Rifles | |
| Date of Death | 1st July 1916 | |
| Place of Death | Somme, France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in action | |
| Age | 29 | |
| Memorial | Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France |
