BOYD, John Anderson (1905-1954)
John Boyd was born at Mosman on 20 March 1905, a son of Reverend Robert Boyd and his wife, Mary. He came to the College from Wentworth Falls State School and became a boarder at the College from 24 May, 1915 until December, 1921. On leaving College, he studied at the Hawkesbury Agricultural College where he qualified for his Diploma of Agriculture in 1924. He then gained wide farm experience in NSW and Queensland in a variety of occupations including jackeroo, bookkeeper, overseer and manager.
He enlisted on 12 June 1940 and served with the AIF in the Middle East and New Guinea. He embarked with the 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion. His final posting was to 2/7th Division Cavalry Regiment. He was discharged on 27 December 1944, but had suffered war injuries that prevented him from working on his grazing property ' Rylestone' which he started after the war. He was later, in 1948, appointed Inspector of Lands, Agriculture and Stock with the Department of the Interior. He also acquired a small property known as 'Ginninderra' on which he lived until his death.
He died, age 49, on 29 December 1954 at the Canberra Community Hospital, and his military funeral was attended by large numbers including a cross-section of the Canberra community and the agricultural world. A representative of the Governor-General also attended.
His elder brother, Robert Paterson Boyd (1903-1968), was also a boarder at the College.
Sources: The Canberra Times 30 Dec 1954 p2; Pegasus June 1955 p48; Affleck James, Geelong Collegians at the Second World War, pp 131,2.