9294 L/Corporal Ellis Ernie England Boyce, (1917-23/5/1941). "we were badly strafed"

The Official History of the 20th Battalion, 2NZEF, has this to say about how Ernest Boyce was fatally wounded on the island of Crete:

A second RAP (Regimental Aid Post) was set up farther back in a combined stable and house about 100 yards on the Canea side of the bridge over the Platanias River. Corporal Lyn Sutherland describes its work:

page 126

Here Sgt Bruce Mark, Private Ernie Boyce, the MO's batman, and I gave first aid to the walking wounded and sent them back to a 5th Bde ADS on the side of a hill. Serious cases were kept till dark and evacuated by passing trucks. The Maori Battalion supplied two trucks and swastika flags were placed over their roofs to protect them from German aircraft. While attending a wounded man Sgt Mark was himself wounded in the back when enemy aircraft strafed the house and he later died of wounds.

About 200–250 casualties were treated here. We had few supplies as we had brought from Greece only what we could carry in our haversacks. The men's field dressings were used and a jar of cognac in the shed provided effective treatment for shock. Captain Rhodes of the Mortar Platoon did good work directing the wounded to our RAP and later assisted them on their way to the ADS….

The RAP was actually in a very bad position. It was on a corner only 100 yards from an ammunition dump which received a direct hit … [next morning] and enemy planes returned at intervals to strafe the area. In addition, an Australian gun was sited nearby and attracted enemy fire. There were no Red Cross flags available, these having been lost in Greece. We had no stretchers and very bad cases had to be carried away on doors taken from the building.

There were some German paratroopers amongst the wounded and also some PW's who had been sent back by the forward troops. When their own planes came over these Germans dived into a ditch and were in no hurry to come out. Finally, under threat from one of their own Lugers they were made to hold up swastika flags or put them on their shoulders and stand out in the open. This measure successfully protected the RAP post.

With Private Boyce I maintained the RAP throughout the night of 22–23 May and until late in the following afternoon. Wounded were coming in all the time from not only the 20th but also from the Maori Battalion and other 5th Bde units. After the forward troops had withdrawn the 5th Bde officer advised me to go back and try to locate my own unit. We waited till we saw Bruce Mark away on an Aussie truck and then Ernie Boyce and I made our way back under cover towards Canea. A few stragglers joined us and on the way we were badly strafed, Ernie Boyce being severely wounded. I patched him up and also some of the others, hailed a passing truck, and asked the driver to take the wounded back to 42nd Street where there was a hospital.

Ernie Boyce died in hospital and is buried in the Suda Bay Cemetery.  His fate was determined by a Court of Enquiry after the evacuation of Crete and would have been confirmed by the International Red Cross.

ROLL OF HONOUR. 

IN MEMORIAM.

BOYCE — In loving memory of Lance-Corporal Ellis Ernie England Boyce, died of wounds in Crete, May 23, 1941, only son of J. E. Boyce and nephew of Sarah E. Boyce. 

-Inserted by his loving aunt.  -Press, 24/5/1943.

Ashburton Cemetery.