Private Louis F Boustouller

Private Louis Francis Boustouller served with 6th (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion and took part in the invasion of Italy in Autumn 1943.

Private Boustouller died on 10 September 1943, aged 23 years old. He is now commemorated on the Memorial at Cassino War Cemetery, Italy.

Born in St Brelade’s Bay, Jersey on 6 May 1920, the second of five children and only son of Louis Francois Boustouler and Marie Rose Le Henaff.

Joined British Army c.1938
Enlisted in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Private in 6 Battalion Parachute Regiment (The Royal Welch Fusiliers) – 2 Parachute Brigade, 1 Airborne Division.

Louis was killed on 10 September 1943 during the landing at Taranto. He was on board the fast minelayer HMS Abdiel which detonated two ground mines as she was manoeuvring alongside the dock shortly after midnight. The explosion ripped through the ship which was carrying the division's reserve ammunition supply and sank in just three minutes. Casualties totalled 58 killed and 154 wounded from the 6 (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion, and 48 dead among Abdiel's crew. The mines had been laid by two German torpedo boats (S-54 and S-61) just a few hours earlier as they evacuated the port.

Louis had married Beatrice M.E. Bullock (Betty) five months earlier on 4 April, 1943 at St John the Evangelist Church, Kenilworth. Louis was 22 and Betty 20.

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