John Brooke Boyd was born on the 21st of October 1920 in Portsmouth, Hampshire. His parents were John Gordon Boyd and Violet Constance Brooke.

As Adjutant, he signed the movement and administration orders for Exercise HANDS UP in April 1944, the Battalion's move from Selkirk to its pre-invasion camp near Wickham, Hampshire.

He landed with 1st KOSB on D-Day and fought through Europe until being wounded by mortar fire on the 9th of December in action around Wanssum. He lost his leg due to this injury and on the 15th of December, his status was updated to 'Dangerously Ill'.

In the C Company reorganisation, November 1944, he became Officer Commanding A Company.

He married Mary S Middleton at St George's Hanover Square, Westminster, in January 1948. The Best Man was Major Alistair Thorburn of the KOSB.

John died of cancer in January 1983 at the age of 62 in Berkshire.