Bdr William John Riddell Boardman

William was born in August 1914, the son of a builder, and he himself later went into the building trade. Just before the second world war broke out, he was living with his mother and father and his two sisters at Downsells on Priests Lane.

At the start of the second world war his family became involved in helping the war effort in civilian roles - his father became a War reserve constable, helping the police while younger men went off to war, William used his building experience to work in demolition - removing debris from bombed areas - and one of his sisters volunteered as an ambulance driver.

Some time before 1942 he was called up and after training was sent to the 11th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, and sent to North Africa.

The 11th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (HAC), with William among its ranks, played a pivotal role in the intense clashes that unfolded in North Africa during Rommel's advancement towards Tobruk. The Battle of Gazala and The Cauldron occurred from May 26th to June 21st, 1942. On June 13th, the 21st Panzer Division joined the fray from the western front, showcasing the Afrika Korps' adeptness in tactics by effectively combining tanks with anti-tank artillery during their offensive maneuvers. By nightfall, British tank numbers dwindled from 300 to approximately 70, marking June 13th as "Black Saturday" for the Eighth Army. The Battle of Gazala inflicted heavy losses on the Allies, with approximately 98,000 soldiers either killed, wounded, or captured, alongside the loss of around 540 tanks. Axis forces suffered an estimated 32,000 casualties and lost 114 tanks.

After being defeated in Libya, the 11th Royal Horse Artillery left for Egypt on 16th June 1942, in the build up to El Alamien. It was during the preparation for this battle that, on 29th June 1942, William was killed in action.

He is buried in the "El Alamein War Cemetery" in Egypt, and his name is recorded on the Brentwood War Memorial.