In Memory of

Rifleman Leo Doyle

3597
1st/5th Prince of Wales’ Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment)
Died Of Wounds 12th August 1916 Age 23

Rifleman Leo Doyle was the son of Mr and Mrs Frank Doyle of Newton-le-Willows. He served his time with Messrs. McCorquodale and Co. as a compositor, but then emigrated to Chicago. On the outbreak of war, he immediately returned and enlisted, doing so in St. Helens. He went out to France in 1915. In a letter he gives an account of the journey.

The first indication that there was anything wrong came in a letter from Rev. Fr. J. Crotty, R.C. Chaplain with the Forces, who had been stationed at St. Mary's, Newton, for a lengthy time. The "Newton and Earlestown Guardian" of August 18th 1916 reproduced the letter, which it suggested "was sent prompted by the kindly feeling that it would prepare the way for more serious news" as the letter clearly implied that the injuries were to Leo's hands and were "nothing very serious."

However, very shortly afterwards Leo's parents received a telegram followed by an official paper stating that their son had died in the South African Hospital, Abbeville, on August 12th from wounds received in action.

Leo Doyle is buried in the Abbeville Communal Cemetery (Plot VI Row D Grave 9), Abberville being a town about 80 km south of Boulogne, on the main road from Boulogne to Paris (N1). Three hospitals were stationed there between 1915 and 1919.

Fr. Crotty's original letter was dated August 9th. In his book "Ich Dien", Captain Whalley-Kelly gives an account of the Attack on Guillemont, on the 8th and 9th August 1916, the action in which Leo probably sustained his fatal injuries and part of the Battles of the Somme. Captain Carlton Collingwood and Private Percy Foden were killed while supporting the action.

"On 8th August the 55th Division was ordered to capture the village of Guillemont, a tactical locality of great importance… For the first stage of this operation the 166th Infantry Brigade, to which the Battalion belonged, was in reserve in bivouacs near the Citadel.

"At 4.20 a.m. on the 8th the attack commenced, the first waves capturing all their objectives with great dash…. At 5 p.m. the 166th Infantry Brigade was warned to be in readiness to continue the attack on the following morning, and at midnight operation orders were received confirming this.

"The Brigade orders laid down that Guillemont village was to be the final objective, and that the attack would be made on a two-battalion front, the Liverpool Scottish on the right and the 5th Loyals on the left; the 5th Battalion was to support the 5th Loyals. The assault was timed to commence at 4.20 a.m. and there was to be no preliminary bombardment.

"Shortly after 2 a.m. on the 9th, Battalion Headquarters moved forward to a sunken road near the assembly positions… Owing to the late hour at which orders were received, there had been no time or opportunity for reconnaissance and, in consequence, none of the battalion or company commanders had much idea of the lie of the land. In addition, the sunken road was crowded with troops of the 164th Infantry Brigade, who had attacked the previous day, and, as a result, there was considerable delay in getting the companies of the 5th Battalion into their proper positions… However, at zero our guns opened with great violence, but within three minutes the enemy's answering barrage came down, mainly on the sunken road, thus making confusion worse confounded, and cutting off those elements that had not already reached their starting-line.

"Nevertheless, a gallant attempt was made to reach the German trenches, an attempt which broke down under withering machinegun fire, the whole line coming back to the localities captured on the previous day. By this time the companies of the 5th Battalion were hopelessly mixed up with those of the two units in the leading wave, and it was noon before they could be reorganised."