Jim Boyes, Belinda O'Hooley

From his home town of Scarborough in Yorkshire, Robert Riby Boyes’ First War journeys took him to the Western Front in France, to Belgium and the Battle of Passchendaele, by cattle truck to the South of France and the mountains of the Italy Front in winter, to the Front in Northern France again, and then further still….

Jim Boyes, from the critically acclaimed a cappella trio Coope Boyes & Simpson, and also Robert’s grandson, says his grandfather, who was known as “Croppie” in the family, never talked about his wartime experiences. It was only when Jim began to write songs and research the history of the First War for performances for the Flemish Arts organisation, Peace Concerts Passendale, that a fuller picture of the long trail of Private Boyes of the 23rd Middlesex Regiment began to emerge.

Bringing together Croppie Boyes own first-hand accounts, Jim’s newly written and traditional songs and Belinda O’Hooley’s (O’Hooley & Tidow, Nic Jones Trio) subtle, innovative piano accompaniments, Sensations of a Wound is an original and moving story of a Yorkshire soldier caught up in the enormity of the First War.