ROYLE, Hector Charles
| Service Number: | 169 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 March 1915, An original of A Company 21st Bn |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 24th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Williamstown, Victoria, Australia, 1887 |
| Home Town: | Essendon, Moonee Valley, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Moonee Ponds West State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Salesman |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 30 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension Plot VI, Row A, Grave No. 34. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Monbulk Avenue of Honour and Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 169, 21st Infantry Battalion, An original of A Company 21st Bn | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 169, 24th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 10 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 169, 24th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
The son of Thomas Gough Royle and Adelaide Royle, of Ascot Vale, Victoria. The 21st Battalion, in relieving the 22nd in the front line before Pozieres, met a terrific bombardment where many were wounded and killed. Among them was Private Hector Royle, known as ‘Charlie’. He was seriously wounded, a gunshot wound to the head and evacuated to the 1st Australian Field Ambulance where he died the same day. He was buried by the Rev. W. T. Strachan in the Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension.
A wounded mate of Pte. Hector Royle, wrote a letter to his parents which was published in the local paper, ...’sorry poor old Hector was killed. I was speaking to him just before I left the front line and he was going strong; but I believe he got a piece of shrapnel through the throat and died on his way to the hospital. He is buried in a cemetery not far away from the scene of our writing, and there is a little cross up, with his name, number and battalion on it. He had a Christian burial. I went round to enquire after him and it would have done you good to hear how they all spoke of him, from the officers down. It is hard to write about it, as it all seems like a terrible nightmare, and I cannot realise it. His last words to me were: "I am glad, Jack. that we are going to have a go at last. We will give the Germans a hiding, and get back home. If it is God’s, will I come out again". That was Hector's wish to have a go and end it. We had our go and did all we were asked to do, but we left many a good friend there. I am proud to have known Hector, and able to call him a friend mine. He lived a gentleman and died a gentleman and hero. When you read the papers about Pozieres, you will know that where we have been, and the place poor old Hector met his death….’ The paper also reported Royle was a Southland and Gallipoli hero and saw service at Sinai Peninsula in Arabia.