John Boland

Company Serjeant Major John Boland – Decorated Local Hero

Early Life

John Boland

John Boland was born in 1883 in Swansea, the eldest child of John and Mary Boland. 

Goal Records

At age 14, he was briefly imprisoned for “obstruction,” an early brush with authority that did not define the course of his life. 

1901 Census 

By the 1901 Census, the Boland family were living at 159 Llangyfelach Street. His father was a general labourer, and the household included John, his siblings, and several lodgers.

1911 Census

In 1907, John married Mary Elizabeth Rees, and by 1911 they were living at 158 Llangyfelach Street with their two-year-old son, John junior. At this time, John was employed as a mason labourer.

Military Service and Honours

During the First World War, John enlisted in the Welsh Regiment and quickly rose to the rank of Sergeant. In August 1917, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), one of the highest decorations available to non-commissioned officers, for gallantry in the field. Although the exact citation has not been located, his service record reveals the scale of his contribution. He was wounded in the head yet returned to duty, later serving with the Salonica Army on the Bulgarian Front, a demanding and often overlooked theatre of the war. He was eventually promoted to Company Serjeant Major, and in addition to the DCM he was also awarded the Médaille Militaire by France and the Greek Military Cross, confirming that his bravery and leadership were recognised not only by the British command but also by Allied nations. Together, these honours portray a soldier of exceptional dedication, courage, and resilience.

Understanding His Medals

The Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) was the second-highest award for gallantry in action for non-commissioned officers and other ranks of the British Army, second only to the Victoria Cross. The Médaille Militaire was a French decoration awarded to soldiers for acts of bravery in the face of the enemy, often regarded as the enlisted man’s equivalent of the Légion d’honneur. The Greek Military Cross, meanwhile, was established to recognise both Greek and Allied soldiers for exceptional bravery and leadership during combat. For John Boland to receive all three was highly unusual and illustrates the remarkable impact of his service.

Return and Tragic Death

1921 Census

By the time of the 1921 Census, John had returned home to his family at 158 Llangyfelach Street. He was employed as a builder’s storekeeper for Swansea Corporation, and the family had grown to include four children: William, David J., Thomas, and Mary. However, John never fully recovered from the effects of his wartime service. He contracted malaria while serving overseas, and the illness continued to weaken him until it hastened his death on the 28^th of July 1921 at the age of 38.

Burial

South Wales Daily Post

John’s funeral was widely reported in the South Wales Daily Post, reflecting his status as both a decorated soldier and a respected member of the Swansea community. His coffin, draped in the Union Jack, was borne with full military honours, and fellow servicemen paid their respects at Danygraig Cemetery. An honour guard fired volleys over his grave, and a large crowd of mourners, including civic representatives, neighbours, and former comrades, gathered to mark his passing. The ceremony served as a public acknowledgment of both his bravery during the war and the toll that service had taken on his health.

Legacy

John Boland 
Danygraig Cemetery
credit - findagrave

John Boland’s legacy is one of courage, sacrifice, and recognition that crossed national borders. The Distinguished Conduct Medal, the Médaille Militaire, and the Greek Military Cross attest to his valour on three fronts: British, French, and Greek. His untimely death, brought on by illness contracted during service, reminds us that the impact of the First World War extended far beyond the battlefield. His grave at Danygraig Cemetery remains a testament to the enduring cost of war and the pride Swansea continues to take in one of its decorated sons.