DOYLE, Michael Edward
| Service Number: | 9864 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | 9th Field Company Engineers |
| Born: | Penrith, New South Wales, Australia , date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Newtown (NSW), Inner West, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 5 January 1917, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord III A 135 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Jul 1916: | Involvement Sapper, 9864, 9th Field Company Engineers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ajana embarkation_ship_number: A31 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jul 1916: | Embarked Sapper, 9864, 9th Field Company Engineers, HMAT Ajana, Sydney |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Michael Edward DOYLE, was born in 1868, and his birth was registered in the Penrith District, NSW.
In the list of Railway Employees as at 31 December 1917, published in the Government Gazette, he is listed under the name Michael Doyle as being a labourer (supernumerary staff) in the Permanent Way Branch. From this and information in the Police Gazette, it is thought he could have worked for the NSWGR&T as a Casual.
Michael joined the AIF on 12 March 1916 and was posted to the 9th Field Company Engineers with the rank of Sapper (Service Number 9864). He gave his age as being 43 years and 10 months (his actual age was 47, which was more than the maximum of 45 years) and gave his occupation as Carpenter.
Michael embarked for England aboard HMAT A31 ‘Ajana’ at Sydney on 5 July 1916 and disembarked at Plymouth, England on 31 August 1916.
Submitted 19 June 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Michael Edward DOYLE was born in 1868, and his birth was registered in the Penrith District, NSW. His parents were James and Catherine Doyle.
Michael’s married Emily Louisa Carter, in 1902 or 1903. She was a widow who was about 15 years younger than him. The marriage did not last. She initiated legal proceedings for maintenance as a deserted wife. He had difficulty with his maintenance payments. There were three arrest warrants issued against him. He was charged with ‘being about to remove to remote parts of the State …’ to avoid paying. The first time, it was reported in the Police Gazette of 27th July 1904. He had been arrested by Port Macquarie and Wauchope Police. On the second occasion it was reported in the Police Gazette of 19th December 1906. He had been arrested in Queensland by Sydney Police. On the last occasion it was reported in the Police Gazette of 28th October 1908 that he had been arrested by Melbourne Police. Each time he paid up and the charge was dropped.
Michael also formed a relationship with Emeline (Emma) Lucy Hush. She was about 11 years younger than he was. They had an ex-nuptial son, Cyril James Doyle, who was born on 2nd October 1909. Emeline died in 1911. Cyril continued to live with his father until Michael joined the AIF.
He arranged for Emily Cullen (née Doyle), the wife of William Francis Cullen, to become Cyril’s legal guardian. The Cullens lived in Lidcombe, NSW. Emily might have been either Michael’s aunt or his cousin, but not his sister.
In 1904 he was employed at the grain sheds at Darling Harbour. His occupation was later reported as "carpenter", then as a labourer in the Permanent Way Branch of the Railways.
Michael joined the AIF on 12th March 1916. He was posted to the 9th Field Company Engineers with the rank of Sapper (Service Number 9864). He gave his age as being 43 years and 10 months, although his actual age was 47 (more than the maximum of 45 years) . He gave his occupation as Carpenter. He nominated his son at his address of Taylor St, Lakemba as his next of kin. At this time, Cyril was 7½-years-old. The AIF later amended this to show his wife, who was then living in St Peters, as his next of kin, then amended it again to reinstate his son as next of kin.
Michael embarked for England aboard HMAT A31 ‘Ajana’ at Sydney on 5th July 1916. He disembarked at Plymouth, England on 31st August 1916. He joined the 9th Field Company Engineers at Lark Hill (on Salisbury Plain), England, for further training. On 22nd November 1916 he left England for France.
On 4th January 1917 he was wounded in action near Armentières. He died of his wounds the next day. His grave is in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord), Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France. His place of association is Newtown, NSW, and the Australian War Memorial shows his age as being 48 when he died.
After Michael’s death his estranged widow, who was living at St Peters, was granted a pension of £2 per fortnight from 14th March 1917. Michael’s son Cyril, who was living with his legal guardian at Lidcombe, was granted a pension of £1 per fortnight with effect from the same date.
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
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