Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Boulton a shepherd, born 1835 in Anstey, Leicestershire and his wife Hannah Maria Boulton (nee Crooks, married in the 1st quarter of 1872 in the Leicester district), born 1844 in Newtown Linford, Leicestershire. James Condon, a schoolboy, was born in the 1st quarter of 1882 in Anstey, his siblings were Harriett, a Griswold knitter, born on the 22nd September 1872 and baptised on the 20th June 1875 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey, Annie Elizabeth, a Griswold knitter, born on the 20th April 1875 and baptised on the 20th June 1875 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey, Catherine, a Griswold knitter, born in the 1st quarter of 1877 and baptised on the 22nd July 1877 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey, Lydia Ann, a nurse girl, born in the 4th quarter of 1878, John, a shoe trade finisher, born in the 2nd quarter of 1880, Maria Condon a schoolgirl, born on the 17th November 1883 and Thomas Edward A., a schoolboy, born in the 3rd quarter of 1886, all his siblings were born in Anstey, also residing with the family was his half blood sibling Sarah Crooks, a shoe trade machinist, born in the 4th quarter of 1868 in Anstey and her daughter Frances Agnes Crooks, born in the 1st quarter of 1890 in Anstey and baptised on the 27th May 1890 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey, in April 1891 the family home was at Church Lane, Anstey. In March 1901 James was employed as a shoe trade finisher and was residing in the family home at Hollow Road, Anstey, together with his father, a brewer’s labourer, his mother and siblings, Annie, a Griswold knitter, John, a shoe trade finisher, Maria, a shoe trade machinist and Thomas, a shoe trade riveter, also residing with the family was James’ widowed sister Harriett Hooke, a Griswold knitter and her son Nathaniel John Hooke, born in the 4th quarter of 1894 in Anstey and his nephew Harold Boulton, born in the 1st quarter of 1901 in Anstey. In April 1911 James was absent from the family home at Hollow Road, Anstey, residing there was his widowed father, and siblings, Thomas, a boot trade finisher, his married sister Maria Brotherhood and her husband, Zeb Brotherhood, a baker journeyman, born on the 1st February 1883 in Wales and his nephew John Hooke, a boot trade clicker, meanwhile James was serving as a Private with the 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment and was stationed in Aden.
James enlisted/attested into the Militia on the 2nd March 1907 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 9687. He gave his place of birth as Anstey, Leicestershire and age as 24 years 4 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as shoe hand, currently employed by Messrs. Graves, Pickering & Jackson, Anstey, Leicestershire. He gave his present address as Holly Lane, Anstey, Leicestershire.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 2nd March 1907 and recorded his apparent age as 30? years, that he was 5 feet 8⅛ inches in height, weighed 126½ lbs, had a chest measurement of between 31 and 35 inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had brown eyes and his hair colour was dark brown. The following distinctive marks were noted, small scar right side of head 2½ inches above and a little behind right ear. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father Joseph, younger brother, Thomas, older sister Lydia and younger sister Maria, Holly Lane, Anstey, Leicestershire.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Attested. 2/3/07.
Joined. 3rd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 2/3/07.
Commenced 46 days drill. 2/3/07.
Transferred. To the Lincolnshire Regt. 20/7/07.
James’ surviving militia service record amounts to a total of four pages, all of which relate directly to his militia service, and these are in good condition and offer an accurate description of the events that took place during his short period of his militia service.
James’ Army enlistment documents do not survive, what is known of his military service is that he transferred from the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, Militia on the 20th July 1907 into the Lincolnshire Regiment, being allotted the service number 8085, and was posted as a Private to that Regiment’s Depot for training, subsequently being posted to the 2nd Battalion. Upon the outbreak of war James was serving in Bermuda, his Battalion sailing for, and arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in September, they sailed for the UK on the 3rd October and landed at Devonport, where they transferred to Hursley Park, near Winchester and joined the 25th Brigade on the 8th Division. James embarked with his Battalion to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 6th November 1914 disembarking in Le Havre. During his period of service James was promoted to the rank of Corporal, however nothing further is known of his military service until he was officially recorded as having been killed in action on the 25th September 1915, while serving as a Corporal with the 2nd Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment. His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium. James was awarded the 1914 Star with Clasp and Rose, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 25 Sept-15 – BRIDOUX. At 1.00am the Battalion was formed up as follows.
“W” Company. In 70 yards trench behind right of salient.
“X” Company. In assembly trenches behind the fire parapet on the right of the road.
“Z” Company. In assembly trenches behind the fire parapet on the left of the road.
“Y” Company. Two platoons holding the fire parapet of the salient and two platoons in trench 350 yards behind the salient.
The Battalion formed the left of the Brigade, the 2nd ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT being in the centre and the RIFLE BRIGADE on the right. At 4.25am all guns started an intense bombardment on the enemy’s front line of trenches which continued until 4.30am. At that hour the infantry assaulted. At 4.29am a shallow mine running from our salient across to the German trenches was exploded with the idea of eventually being made into a communication trench after the enemy’s lines had been taken. On the infantry assaulting, the artillery lifted off the front line to lines in rear. The assault was carried as follows. At 4.30am “Z” Company moved forward and rushed BRIDOUX FORT opposite, immediately obtaining a footing in it and bombing parties were sent forward to take the 2nd line trenches which was done. Owing however to the enemy’s counter-attack, carried out chiefly by bombing parties down the numerous communication trenches leading to the fort, the pressure on “Z” Company became severe. A platoon of “W” Company was sent there to assist and with a part of two Companies of the 1st ROYAL IRISH RIFLES coming up the pressure for a short time was relieved. A further counter-attack again made the situation in the fort very critical and running out of bombs our men were forced out but were able to hold on to the outside of the parapet until pressure from both flanks and front became so severe that we were no longer able to retain our positions there. The fort was totally evacuated about 2.00pm. As soon as “Z” Company at 4.40am had occupied the fort the bombing parties of “X” Company moved forward and getting into the German trench just on the right of the BRIDOUX FORT bombed along the trench towards the 2nd ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT also bombing into the German 2nd line. “X” Company and “W” Company followed. At 8.00am we were able to join up with the BERKSHIRE REGIMENT and the parties sent into the 2nd line, with the assistance of “W” Company, being successful steps were at once taken to consolidate the 1st line. At 12.30pm the right of the Battalion was forced to the left owing to a strong bomb attack on the BERKSHIRE REGIMENT and at the same time the left of the Battalion in the fort being pressed to its right, the German trenches became very congested with our men. Some more bombs having been obtained we were then able to retake a length of trench to our right but were forced back again but managed to hold our position until 5.00pm. When the enemy having brought up fresh troops delivered a very strong and determined counter-attack and forced us to evacuate all our gains. Before the trenches we had gained had finally to be evacuated at least six hostile counter-attacks were frustrated by the close co-operation of our artillery, due entirely to the excellent communication and arrangements that existed between the guns and the liaison officer of the Canadian Artillery who was attached to Battalion Headquarters during the day. The platoons of “Y” Company who remained in our own parapet suffered severely during the day from the heavy hostile shelling. At 9.00pm the Battalion was relieved by the 2nd NORTHAMPTONSHIRE REGIMENT and went into billets in the vicinity of FLEURBAIX. (Killed 60, wounded 229, missing 36).
The following officers were present with the Battalion in the action.
Lieutenant Colonel S. FITZG. COX, commanding.
Major F. W. GREATWOOD, 2nd in command (wounded).
Captain and Adjutant E. P. LLOYD.
“W” Company.
Major E. M. FRENCH (wounded).
Lieutenant E. H. LINDSELL.
2nd Lieutenant C. E. M. COOPER.
2nd Lieutenant S. ROSS.
“X” Company
Captain M. G. H. BARKER.
Lieutenant R. B. LESLIE.
2nd Lieutenant R. F. TINDALL (killed).
2nd Lieutenant B. J. WOODCOCK (wounded).
2nd Lieutenant G. P. DAY.
“Y” Company
Captain J. A. A. GRIFFIN.
2nd Lieutenant M. D. PERRINS.
2nd Lieutenant H. KNIGHT.
2nd Lieutenant A. G. BLOOMER (attached to Royal Engineers).
“Z” Company
Major H. C. W. HOSKYNS, D.S.O. (killed).
Lieutenant G. L. MARSHALL (killed).
2nd Lieutenant L. BROOKS, 4th West Yorkshire Regiment (killed).
2nd Lieutenant C. BUDIBENT (killed).
2nd Lieutenant H. R. BUDDEN, 3rd Dorsetshire Regiment (killed).

Major E. W. SKINNER -?-
Lieutenant F. F. DAVIES, Transport Officer.
Captain -?- & 2nd Lieutenant R. H. NEALE (Left at Transport Lines under instructions from the Division).
On Tuesday, October 5th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – CORPORAL JAMES BOULTON, 2nd Lincoln’s, who was killed in action on September 25th, was a native of Anstey, and had been in the Army eight years, six having been spent in India. He had been in the trenches for ten months, and only returned back after 48 hours’ leave on September 21. Sergeant Turner, writing to Boulton’s brother informing him of his death says: “We are all sorry to lose him, as he was well liked and respected by everyone he came across, and so jolly. I can tell you we do miss him, and you see it was very soon after he came off leave from his platoon.” Corporal Boulton was a member of the Anstey Working-Men’s Club, where on Sunday the Dead March in “Saul” was played.