In 1911 Thomas Francis Boyden was a Gents outfitter living with his wife Sarah and four children at 28 St Peter’s Street. His father had a tailor’s shop at 7 St George’s Square.

Boyden family wedding with Frank and Harold sitting at the front

Francis Cecil Boyden

Francis Cecil was the second son born in July 1897. On May 20th 1913 he enlisted with the 4th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Territorials when he was still 16 although his records give his age as 17. He was an apprentice machinist with Bowman’s in Cherryholt Road. He was 5ft 4” tall and was fit.

He served in England until March 1915 when he embarked for France with the Expeditionary Force. On September 8th 1918 he was gassed and in August 1919 he was given the King’s Certificate. This was given to people who had been injured in the war. He received the three war medals –the Star, the British and the Victory medal.

In September 1925 he married Rita Beet in Stamford. He ran a tobacconist and newsagent’s business at 17 All Saints’ Street for many years. The family had a butchers shop at no. 16 and later a coal merchant’s business. He lived later at 40 Queen’s Walk. He died in Kettering in 1963.

Rita Boyden in front of the shop

Harold Arthur Boyden

Harold was in born 1900 and unlikely to have served