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OBITUARY

Fl/Lt. John Hislop Boles DFC

Prepared by John Newsham for Aircrew Remembered.

‘Jack’ Boles was born in Morrinsville, New Zealand on 30th December 1921 and died in Te Puke on 20th April 1990.

He was the son of Mr. Joe Boles and his wife Jane (née Newsham).

Served in the RAF in the UK in the latter part of WW2 in 166 Squadron and flew more than one full tour of operations on Lancaster bombers over Germany for which he was awarded the DFC 1944.

London Gazette 07th July 1944:

'P/O. Boles has completed a large number of sorties and has displayed notable skill and resolute qualities, which were well in evidence on a recent sortie. His objective was a target in Germany, but when crossing the enemy coast, one engine became useless. It became difficult to maintain height, but P/O. Boles went on to the target, which he successfully bombed at a second attempt. Later his aircraft was attacked by a fighter. It was given off, however and P/O. Boles afterwards flew his aircraft safely home.

P/O. Boles has at all times displayed the greatest keenest and has set a fine example of devotion to duty'.

His sport was golf at which he excelled. Before the war he was employed by Watts and Brayshaw and after with hardware retailer Gummer and Company of Morrinsville and later with Wright Stephenson and Co’s retail stores - retiring from a management position in their Te Puke branch. His first wife was Grace from Scunthorpe - a wartime marriage. His 2nd wife, Marion survived his death.

His crew. Rear L-R: Sgt. Arthur Harding 1819015, Fl/Sgt. John Hislop Boles, Fl/Sgt. Anthony Madden 994268. Front: Sgt. John Emlyn Hughes DFM. 1395608, Sgt. J. Dickson 1795467, Sgt. Norman James Bradley DFM. 1819015, Sgt. Alfred Cecil Seaman 1819015.

With thanks to David Swallow of the great 166 Squadron website for crew photograph.


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• Last Modified: 10 April 2021, 09:51 •