Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Emmanuel Box, a shepherd and labourer, born 1860 in Todmorton, Oxfordshire and his wife Lizzie Box (nee Harriman Shingler, married in the 3rd quarter of 1883 in the Lutterworth, Leicestershire district), born 1863 in Broughton Astley, Leicestershire. Shirley was born in the 3rd quarter of 1888 in Broughton Astley, his siblings were Emily, born 1884 and Edith Ann, born 1885, the latter two siblings were both born in Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire, Ernest, born 1886 and Mabel, born 1891, the latter two siblings were both born in Broughton Astley, in April 1891 the family home was at Broughton Astley. In March 1901 Shirley was employed as a farm plough boy and was residing in the family home at Main Road, Broughton Astley, together with his father, a farm shepherd, his mother, a Griswold knitter, and his siblings, Emily, a hosiery trade machinist, Edith, a wool trade winder, Ernest, a farm plough boy, Mabel, Harold William, born 1892, Nora Emmeline, born 1894 and Horace George, born 1899, the latter three siblings were all born in Broughton Astley. In April 1911 Shirley was absent from the family home at Broughton Astley, residing there was his father, a farm labourer, his mother and siblings, Ernest, a stone quarry labourer, Mabel, a hosiery trade machinist, Nora, a hosiery trade machinist, Horace, a schoolboy and Arthur Harriman, born 1902 in Broughton Astley, Shirley was serving as a Private with the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and was stationed at Fort Saint George, Madras, India.
Shirley attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve on the 27th December 1906 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, his age as 19 years and 5 months and his trade or calling as labourer. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He stated that he had served with the 1st Volunteer Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. He gave his father Emmanuel, his mother Lizzie, brothers, Ernest, Herbert, Horace and Arthur and sisters, Emily, Edith, Mabel and Norah, all of Sutton Lane, Broughton Astley, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5½ inches in height, weighed 115 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was light brown and he had light blue eyes. It was noted that he had a small scar on the inside of his left eyebrow and a slight varicocle on the left side. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 27th December 1906 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 8063 on the 27/12/06. Posted to the Depot on the 29/12/06. Awarded the 3rd Class Army Certificate of Education on the 7/3/07. Posted to the Pioneer Battalion on the 28/4/07. Granted Messing Allowance on the 27/6/07. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and embarked for India aboard H.T. Assaye on the 6/11/07 – 28/11/07. Posted to Belgaum, India on the 30/11/07 – 5/3/11. Posted to Bellary, India on the 6/3/11 – 3/2/13. Awarded the 2nd Class Army Certificate of Education on the 30/9/11. Appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on the 21/12/12. Appointed paid Lance Corporal on the 30/1/13. Posted to Bareilly, India on the 11/2/13 – 14/3/13. Posted to Ranikhet, India on the 19/3/13 – 23/9/13. Posted to Naini Tal, India on the 23/9/13 – 31/1/14. Posted to Bareilly, India on the 1/2/14 – 19/3/14. Posted to Ranikhet, India on the 23/3/14. Promoted Corporal vice Dayman in Marseilles on the 4/10/14. Admitted to No.9 Brigade Field Ambulance in the field suffering from a gunshot wound to his face (severe) on the 11/2/15.Admitted to No.6 Casualty Clearing Station in the field on the 12/2/15. Died of wounds received in action (gunshot wound head) in No.18 General Hospital, Boulogne on the 26/2/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 27/12/06 – 5/11/07, 314 days. India, 6/11/07 – 19/9/14, 6 years 340 days. Voyage from India, 20/9/14 – 11/10/14, 22 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 12/10/14 – 27/2/15, 139 days. Total service 8 years 63 days. Shirley was awarded the 1914 Star, British and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Shirley’s mother Lizzie Box on the 22nd April 1919, and was witnessed and signed by Wilfred Hodges, Clerk in Holy Orders, Broughton Astley Rectory, Leicester on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Emmanuel Box of Sutton Lane, Broughton Astley, Nr. Leicester. Mother of soldier, Lizzie Box of Sutton Lane, Broughton Astley, Nr. Leicester. Full blood brothers of soldier, Ernest Box, age 32 of Sutton Lane, Broughton Astley, Leicester, Herbert Wm. Box, age 26 of 2, West End Street, Stapleford, Notts., Horace George Box, age 19 of King’s Own Depot, B-?- Barracks, Lancaster, Arthur Harriman Box, age 16 of Sutton Lane, Broughton Astley, Leicester. Full blood sisters of soldier, Emily Clarke, age 35 of 27, Hawthorne Street, Leicester, Edith Ann Mallard, age 33 of Sutton Lane, Broughton Astley, Leicester, Mabel Fisher, age 28 of 69, Deacon Street, Leicester, Norah Emmeline Box, age 24 of Sutton Lane, Broughton Astley, Leicester. Shirley’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 11 Feb-15 - Battalion relieved by 1st MANCHESTER REGT. “B” and “D” Companies (billeted in houses in the RUE DES BERCEAUX) were relieved at 2.00pm. “A” and “C” Companies (in the front line and advanced posts) were relieved at 9.30pm. From the 5th to the 11th February both inclusive, continued work and improvements. Marched to billets at LA COUTURE.