Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Abraham Boat a bricklayer’s labourer, born 29th June 1864 in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire and his wife Elizabeth Boat (nee Kind, married on the 22nd April 1889 in the Parish Church, Wigston Magna), born 1870 in Whetstone, Leicestershire. Edgar Lewis was born on the 24th January 1892 in South Wigston, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 6th March 1892 in the Mission Church Wigston Magna, Leicestershire, his siblings were Ernest, born in the 2nd quarter of 1890 in South Wigston and was baptised on the 6th July 1890 in the Mission Church, Wigston Magna, Mabel, born in the 2nd quarter of 1896 and Elsie Elizabeth, born 12th July 1900, the latter two siblings were both born in Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at 96, Beatrice Road, Leicester. In April 1911 Edgar was employed as a railway lamp depot labourer and was residing in the family home at 94, Beatrice Road, Leicester, together with his father, a shop keeper and general dealer, his mother and siblings, Mabel, a hosiery trade stocking worker and Elsie, a schoolgirl.
Edgar’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Royal Horse Artillery, being allotted the service number 68836, and was posted to the Royal Horse Artillery, “L” Battery and it was with this unit that he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 15th August 1914. During his service he was promoted to the rank of Lance Bombardier (paid). He was awarded the 1914 STAR, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On Tuesday 3rd December 1918 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL CASUALTIES.” - Mr. and Mrs. A. Boat, 94, Beatrice-road, have received notification that their son, Bdr. E. Lewis Boat, R.H.A., aged 26, died from influenza in France on Nov. 5. Bdr. E. L. Boat was one of the “Old Contemptibles,” and went to France at the outbreak of war, belonging to the famous L Battery, and was wounded in the great battle of Mons. He had been in the army about three years before war broke out and had served four years and four months in France.