Boal, Alexander Mather

Date of birth:: September 13th, 1918
Service number:: 126134
Nationality:: British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

From 1936-39 Alexander Boal was studied architecture at Leeds University. He joined the 1/5 West Yorkshire Regiment in 1939 and saw service in Iceland, building camps before SOE training. Boal was in command of STS 45 (Hatherop Castle), a SOE Training School by December 1943. In March 1945 he was parachuted in to Burma where he served on Operation Character, team Walrus.
After the war he continued his career and was elected Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1950. He was architect to British Rail in the 1960s.
By 1979 he was Regional Architect, BRB Eastern Region and he was based in York.

Promotions:
16 maart 1940: 2nd Lieutenant West Yorkshire Regiment
1 januari 1949 Captain & Honoray Major

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Military Cross (MC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Temporary Major
Unit:: WALRUS, Force 136, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Citation:
"The A/m officer dropped into WALRUS party of Force 136 in Mar 45. Throughout operations he showed consistent devotion to duty and initiative, and was tireless in the work of organising and training the levies.
He personally led several attacks against the enemy, and by his personal example was an inspiration to his men. He showed great gallantry on the occasion of the capture of DAWTASAW village, when he led a bayonet charge, and although greatly outnumbered by the enemy, cleared the village of the remaining Japanese.

I recommend him strongly for the award of the Military Cross."

Sources

- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34818/supplement/1820
- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37780/supplement/5466
- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38737/supplement/4947
- The men of SOE Burma – The Special Operations Executive in Burma, 1941-1945
- Dictionary of Scottish Architects - Home