Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : Private

Army Number : 7832

Unit : 2nd Bn, 3rd Bn, 1st Bn, 8th, 9th Bn

Biography :

Sydney 'Togo' Bolesworth enlisted at Hinckley into The Leicestershire Regiment on 12.12.1905, and in March 1906 was posted to 2nd Bn in Colchester, serving initially in B Company. He moved with the Battalion to India in September 1906. Whilst in India he had several bouts of illness, including one of enteric fever and three of malaria, for which he received hospital base care. He was a fine boxer, probably the best the Regiment ever had. In 1908 he won the All-India title at welter weight, and in 1909 he won the middle-weight title. He returned to England in 1913 and agreed to join the Reserves.
He was mobilised at Leicester on 5.8.1914 into 3rd Bn as a paid LCpl and was posted to 1st Bn in France, which he entered on 20.9.1914. He was awarded the D.C.M. for his action at Hooge (L.G. 14.1.1916 "For conspicuous gallantry. He was in charge of a picket, and was wounded by a shell in both legs and severely bruised by falling timber. He stuck to his post until relieved, collapsing after reporting to his Company Commander.") and the French 'Croix de Guerre' (L.G. 24.2.1916) by which time he was in the 3rd Bn in England recovering from wounds from a gunshot to the thigh, having been admitted to the 18th General Hospital on 18.8.1915. He returned to the front in May 1916. Sometime between May and December 1916 he was given 14 days’ Field Punishment Number 1 for misconduct. Then on 15.12.1916 he reported sick with myalgia and was admitted to the 17th Field Ambulance, returning to 1st Bn on 22.12.1916. His poor disciplinary record continued when on 18.3.1917 he was tried by Field General Court Martial for being found drunk in the front line trenches, when on orderly duty on 8.3.1917; he was sentenced to 2 months’ Field Punishment Number 1. On 13.4.1917, he was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to the buttock. He was evacuated to the 18th Field Ambulance, to No1 Casualty Clearing Station, and then to the military hospital in Canterbury, where he spent 28 days in hospital and was posted to 3rd Bn Leicestershire Regiment. Sometime in the next few days he forfeited pay for absence. In summer 1917 he returned to the Western Front, initially posted to 8th Bn and then on 1.9.1917 to his final posting to 9th Bn in Belgium. Employed as a sniper he was Killed in Action near Polygon Wood near Ypres on 1.10.1917. His body not having been recovered, he is commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. His name is on the Hinckley War Memorial, St Peter’s Church Memorial, Hinckley, and at the Primitive Methodist Memorial, Hinckley.

CWGC:
BOLESWORTH, SYDNEY
Rank: Private
Service No: 7832
Date of Death: 01/10/1917
Regiment/Service: Leicestershire Regiment 9th Bn.
Panel Reference: Panel 50 to 51.
Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL

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'Togo' Bolesworth, boxer & hero - http://www.green-tiger.co.uk/id46.html - Matthew Richardson
One of the most remarkable figures to emerge from the history of the Leicestershire Regiment is Sgt Sydney 'Togo' Bolesworth DCM, of Hinckley. Born in a cottage in Spring Gardens in 1889, young Sydney began his working life in a hosiery factory aged just 13. He was a well-built young man who enjoyed boxing. When, three years later, he decided to join the army, he found that boxing was looked upon very favourably. He was posted to 2nd Battalion The Leicestershire Regiment in India, and in 1908 won the All-India title at welter weight. The following year he won the title again, as a middle weight. Returning home in 1912 he boxed across the Midlands gaining a fearsome reputation. In 1914 he knocked out Billy Sherwood to win a purse of 100 pounds.

Later that year upon the outbreak of war Bolesworth was recalled to the Colours and in 1915 with the 1st Battalion he was awarded the DCM for bravery in the field. In 1916 whilst serving in England he was accused of manslaughter following a fight with another soldier. However, a group of officers from The Leicestershire Regiment paid for a barrister to conduct his defence. He was subsequently acquitted, and the judge in the case subsequently apologised to him for the fact that a man of his good character should have been detained. Togo returned to France, and was killed in action in Flanders in 1917. The origin of his nickname is unknown.
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Matthew Richardson's 'The Tigers', Pages 200-202:
“During the early part of the morning the 9th Battalion had also lost one of its most colourful characters to serve in its ranks, Private Sidney 'Togo' Bolesworth. He and a fellow soldier, Private Joe Paul, were designated battalion snipers, and had crawled into a shell-hole in front of the British lines in order to give them a better view over the German positions. They had taken a few shots at the enemy when the German counter-attack erupted before them. Paul was hit in the leg, but managed to escape, while Bolesworth was shot dead, his body last seen in a muddy shell-hole. His remains were not recovered, and he too is named on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
“ 'Togo' Bolesworth was born in a cottage in Spring Gardens, Hinckley in 1989, the third of four brothers. Aged 13 he had started work as a half timer in a hosiery factory. A 'well set up lad' who could 'give a good account of himself, young Togo liked to box in his spare time. When, three years later he tired of life at the factory and decided to join the army, he discovered that boxing and the army went well together. He was posted with his Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment to India, and in 1908 won the All-India title at welter weight. He later won the title again at Poona in India, this time as a middle weight. He returned home from the Army in 1912, and boxed in numbers of contests across the Midlands. He was reckoned to be the hardest hitter in his weight in the country at that time, and the biggest fight of his career came at the Olympia Skating Rink on Trinity Lane Hinckley, in May 1914, when he fought Billy Sherwood of Walsall for a purse of £163. Sherwood was knocked out by Togo in front of an enormous crowd who had travelled by train from Leicester, Birmingham and elsewhere to see the spectacle.
“With the outbreak of war, Bolesworth was recalled to the Colours, where he would experience the highest of peaks and the lowest of troughs in the coming years. In 1915 with the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Croix de Guerre for his undisputed bravery in the field - even though wounded he had remained at his post until he was relieved, and had the presence of mind to deliver a report on the situation to his commanding officer before receiving medical help. Returning to England to recover from his wounds, he was posted to the 3rd Battalion at Patrington near Hull. Whilst there, he became involved in an altercation with another soldier, whom he struck. The soldier died during the night, ostensibly of concussion, and Togo found himself charged with manslaughter at York Assizes. He was imprisoned for two months whilst awaiting trial, but it is a remarkable testimony to his stature within The Leicestershire Regiment that a group of officers paid for a Barrister to conduct his defence. Togo was acquitted after two doctors testified that the fatal injuries could not have been inflicted during the fight, and the judge apologised to him for the fact that a man of his good service should have been detained. He hoped that it would be some consolation that he could return to his regiment without a stain on his character.
“In the event, Togo did return to France, but this time to the 9th Battalion. He arrived in the Summer of 1917, and quickly re-established himself once more as a man whom his officers could rely upon in any situation. As with the 1st Battalion, he refused the offer of a stripe or stripes, despite the positions of responsibility which he often held. When he died, he was still only a private soldier. After his death, his Officer, Lt Griffiths wrote to tell his mother that Bolesworth was ‘well liked and respected by not only all in the sniping section but in the Battalion and many officers thought that he was the best soldier in the regiment.’ ”

Some of the above and all below comes from the Hinckley & District Museum.

St. Peter’s Parish Magazine – November 1917
It is with feelings of sincere regret that we chronicle the death of Private Sydney Bolesworth of the 9th Leicesters which occurred on October 1st last, whilst in action in France. Writing on the 16th, Lieutenant R W Griffiths sends to Mrs Bolesworth the following eulogistic tribute to her son: “He was one of my snipers and I feel his death as a personal loss. He was a real soldier – a man of whom I was proud. I had asked him once or twice to take a stripe but he had always refused; but even as a Private soldier he was one whom I could always place in command of other men. All of us – not only in the sniping section but in the battalion – liked and respected him. Many of the officers used to speak of him as the “best soldier in the regiment”. As a boxer he was of course second to none of us; but he was also a real good fellow; and I am proud to think that he looked on me as a pal as well as an officer…..I will send you fuller particulars as soon as I can get them. By all accounts your son fought like a lion and died a real hero’s death. I know that you will be proud of him.”
Private Bolesworth, who was 29 years of age, joined the army about twelve years ago and it was as a reservist at he was called up at the beginning of the war. He had been twice wounded, the first time being in 1915, when he was in charge of a picket at Hooge. Wounded by a shell in one of his legs and severely bruised by falling timber, he stuck to his post until relieved, collapsing after reporting to his Company Commander. For this he was awarded the DCM. He was wounded again last March. He went out to France for the third time in the following June. Besides the above mentioned award he had received the French Croix de Guerre in recognition of his distinguished services.
Prior to the war the deceased soldier had the reputation of being one of the best boxers in the Midlands and on many occasions had met and defeated the champions of Leicester and Birmingham. Whilst in India he held a great record, defeating Bandsman Blake. As army champion he carried off cups at Madras (1908) and Poona.
He is the third brother to fall on the field. Corporal William Bolesworth was killed at Mons on March 11th, 1916; and Lance Corporal James Bolesworth met his death on the Somme on the 15th of the following September – RIP.
The fourth brother (Walter) fought in France and Mesopotamia and being severely wounded in the latter country, was invalided home and discharged about a year ago.
HINCKLEY TIMES JANUARY 1918
It is announced that Private Sydney Bolesworth has been killed in action at 9.00am on 1st October 1917, aged 28 years. Private Bolesworth was serving with the Leicestershire Regiment. Private Bolesworth was known as “Togo” and joined the Leicesters as a lad and served seven years with the Tigers in India, refusing promotion several times. Whilst in India his boxing attributes flourished. He won the Middleweight (11 stones 14 pounds) Championship of India and the 10 stone 4 pounds Championship in 1908. He thrice beat Bandsman Blake and established for himself a pre-eminent position in Army boxing. Bandsman Blake was a well-known boxer of that time and was reckoned to be one of the “white hopes” to take the title of Negro Jack Johnson.
Togo was called up as a reservist at the outbreak of war and was in France engaged in the dangerous work of sniping. In February 1916 the President of France awarded him the Croix de Guerre and about the same time he received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for “whilst in charge of a picket and wounded in both legs by a shell, he stuck to his post until relieved and only collapsed after reporting to his commanding officer”.
Lieutenant Griffiths, his officer said that Private Bolesworth even though not an NCO was one he could put in command of other men. He was well liked and respected by not only all in the sniping section but in the Battalion and many officers though he “was the best soldier in the regiment”.
Between periods of service, Togo boxed regularly around the local Midland shows and had quite a following. He was the son of Mrs. Bolesworth of Spring Gardens, Hinckley, who has now lost three sons in the war and has a fourth son wounded.
HINCKLEY TIMES 14TH NOVEMBER 1952
An article appeared in this edition in relation to Togo Bolesworth. It outlined his career including the fact that whilst he was serving at home he was tried at York Assizes for the manslaughter of a fellow soldier. He was acquitted, after his officers had described him as the best soldier in the regiment and had also paid for his legal defence. The article also contains an eyewitness account of how Togo was killed in action. A Joseph Paul told the paper that on 30th September he and Togo went over the parapet, forward of the British trenches. They found a suitable shell hole, some fifty yards from the enemy line and set up a sniping position for themselves. The article continued: “The two men had sniper’s rifles and in the course of the early morning they had a shot or two because things seemed unduly lively over in the German lines. It was shortly before 9.00aam that the trench in front of them began to spill enemy soldiers into the broken ground ahead. They used a few more rounds. Then a German bullet hit Togo and Joe got his in the leg. Somehow, Joe got back but Togo still lay out there in his muddy Flanders shell hole. Togo Bolesworth, the best Middleweight Hinckley ever produced, had taken the last count”.

Date of Birth : 1889

Place of Birth : Hinckley, Leics

Date of Death : 1.10.1917

Place of Death : Poygon Wood, Ypres, Belgium

Civil Occupation : Hosier

Period of Service : 1904-12; 1914-17

Conflicts : WW1

Places Served : England, India, France, Belgium