Sir Leslie Boyce, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Harold Leslie Boyce, 1st Baronet K.St.J.
(9 July 1895 – 30 May 1955) was an Australia
n-born British
Conservative Party
politician
.
Boyce was born in Taree, New South Wales
, the son of Charles Macleay Boyce, a solicitor
, and his wife Ethel May (née) Thorne. He was educated at Sydney Grammar School
and Balliol College, Oxford
, and was later called to the Bar, Inner Temple
. He served during the First World War in the Australian Imperial Force
as a second lieutenant in the 27th Battalion, and later as a lieutenant in the 10th Battalion
. In July 1916, he was wounded at Pozières
and invalided back to Adelaide
.
After the war he eventually settled in Cheltenham
, Gloucestershire
and in 1931 became Chairman of the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company
. In 1929 he was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament
(MP) for Gloucester
, a seat he held until 1945. Boyce was also High Sheriff
of Gloucestershire
from 1941 to 1942 and Sheriff of the City of London
from 1947 to 1948 and served as Lord Mayor of London
between 1951 and 1952. In 1952 he was created a Baronet, of Badgeworth in the County of Gloucester.
Boyce was also the President of Gloucester City Football Club
from 1937-1949.
Boyce married Maybery Browse Bevan, daughter of Edwin Philip Bevan, in 1926. They had three sons. He died in May 1955, aged 59, and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son Richard. Lady Boyce died in 1978.
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
(9 July 1895 – 30 May 1955) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n-born British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Boyce was born in Taree, New South Wales
Taree, New South Wales
Taree is a city on the Mid North Coast, New South Wales, Australia. Taree and nearby Cundletown were settled in 1831 by William Wynter. Since then Taree has grown to a population of around 20,000 people and is the centre of a significant agricultural district. It is 16 km from the sea coast,...
, the son of Charles Macleay Boyce, a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
, and his wife Ethel May (née) Thorne. He was educated at Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, selective, day school for boys, located in Darlinghurst, Edgecliff and St Ives, all suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
and Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, and was later called to the Bar, Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
. He served during the First World War in the Australian Imperial Force
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
as a second lieutenant in the 27th Battalion, and later as a lieutenant in the 10th Battalion
Australian 10th Battalion
The 10th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, which served as part of the Australian Imperial Force during World War I. The battalion was completely recruited from South Australia in August 1914 and together with the 9th, 11th and 12th Battalions, it formed part of the 3rd...
. In July 1916, he was wounded at Pozières
Battle of Pozières
The Battle of Pozières was a two week struggle for the French village of Pozières and the ridge on which it stands, during the middle stages of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. Though British divisions were involved in most phases of the fighting, Pozières is primarily remembered as an Australian battle...
and invalided back to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
.
After the war he eventually settled in Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
and in 1931 became Chairman of the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company
Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company
Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company was a railway rolling stock manufacturer based at Gloucester, England; from 1860 until 1986....
. In 1929 he was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Gloucester
Gloucester (UK Parliament constituency)
Gloucester is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was established in 1295 to return two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons but in 1885 representation was reduced to one member under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885...
, a seat he held until 1945. Boyce was also High Sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
of Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
from 1941 to 1942 and Sheriff of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
from 1947 to 1948 and served as Lord Mayor of London
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
between 1951 and 1952. In 1952 he was created a Baronet, of Badgeworth in the County of Gloucester.
Boyce was also the President of Gloucester City Football Club
Gloucester City A.F.C.
Gloucester City Association Football Club is an English semi-professional association football club currently based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in South West England, via groundshare agreement....
from 1937-1949.
Boyce married Maybery Browse Bevan, daughter of Edwin Philip Bevan, in 1926. They had three sons. He died in May 1955, aged 59, and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son Richard. Lady Boyce died in 1978.