John BOYLE. Private 27380, 9th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Born 8 June 1893 at 18 Moore Street, Ballymacarrett, East Belfast, Ireland to Robert and Margaret Jane Boyle, nee Hall. 1901 residing with his parents and siblings at 7 Belvoir Street, Belfast, Ireland
Killed on the first day of the battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916. His father, Robert, was granted a war gratuity 10 July 1917 revised 27 October 1919.
Commemorated on a family memorial in Plot D2. Grave 343, Dundonald Cemetery, Dundonald, Northern Ireland and on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
His father Robert served in the army prior to the Great War -
Robert BOYLE joined up 26 July 1881 at Belfast, aged 19 into the 1st Royal Irish Rifles as Private 51. Born at Shankill, Belfast, Ireland to James Boyle of Newtownards Road, Ballymacarrett, East Belfast, Ireland. His occupation, labourer. He previously served with the 4th Royal Irish Rifles. He served with the Royal Irish Rifles from 26 July 1881 to 15 February 1882. He volunteered to transfer as Private 374 into the 1st Essex Regiment.
Service overseas - Gibraltar, 8 July 1882 to 20 February 1884. Egypt 21 February 1884 to 18 June 1886.
Campaigns, Nile Expedition, 1884-85
Medals -
Egypt medal with clasp, Nile 1884-85
Kedive’s Bronze Star (The medal was presented to all the Officers and Men of the Navy and Army who were engaged in the suppression of the rebellion in Egypt in 1882).
He returned to England and was discharged on the termination of his 1st period of engagement on the 25 July 1893. Total service 12 years, 5 months and 308 days with the colours.
He re-joined Royal Eastern Counties Reserve Regiment 17 March 1900 and posted as Private 569, into the Essex Regiment aged 37, occupation, labourer. He was then residing with his wife Margaret Jane and daughter also called Margaret Jane at 7 Belvoir Street, Belfast. 16 March 1901 he was discharged from the army after 1-year service with the colours.
Death Certificate of pensioner (Chelsea pensioner) shows he died aged 71 at Oakland Avenue, Belfast from endocarditis and cardiac failure.
At rest in Plot D2. Grave 343, Dundonald Cemetery, Dundonald, Northern Ireland
