Further information on Kilcullen participation in WW1 has come to light thanks to a letter to the Diary received this week, writes Brian Byrne of the Kilcullen Diary.
It’s from Barry Doyle, brother of Maria of Logstown and Ger from Yellow Bog, and it details four Doyles who served, two of whom were killed in action. Barry is responding to a post on the Diary in 2010, in which we asked for further information on some 28 young men from the area listed in the records, who included a number of Doyles.
The first of these was Charles Doyle (19/05/1889-09/12/1915), son of Sarah (nee Dunne) and the late William Doyle, Brownstown Cottage, Naas Road, Kilcullen. On a date unknown he enlisted in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Service No.4320). He was posted to France, where as a member of ‘D’ Company, 3rd Battalion RDF, he was killed in action on the 9th December, 1915, aged 26. On the 06/01/1915 he had made a informal Will on a page of his pay book as follows: ‘All my belongings to my mother, Mrs Sarah Doyle, Brownstown Cottage, Kilcullen, Co Kildare. Signed Charley Doyle. 4320. 3 RDF’. He was awarded the 1915 Star, and the Victory and British War Medals. Charley is interred in France, in Mailly-Maillet Communal Cemetery Extension, Grave Ref – B26.
Next is Joseph Doyle (08/11/1896-27/08/1917), son of James and Mary (nee Nugent) Doyle, Convent View, Kilcullen. He enlisted in the 10th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Service No.28721). Sent to France, he died of wounds in Bologne on 27 Aug, 1917, aged 21. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. Joseph is interred at Bologne Eastern Cemetery, Grave Ref – VIII.I.17.
Family survivors of the conflict include Patrick Doyle (1879–1952), a brother of Charles, who served as a driver in the Royal Field Artillery (Ser Number 1356) and was awarded three medals. Thomas Doyle (1896–19??) was a brother of Joseph and served in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Ser Number 3/5365). He was wounded on several occasions and discharged on 19/05/1919 ‘no longer physically fit for war service’. He was awarded three medals and the War Badge.
Sarah Doyle, a sister of Charles, inherited Brownstown Cottage, and married John Joseph Doyle, a brother of Joseph. They raised a family of six, amongst whom were Charley (Barry’s father), John and Simon (Sim). The cottage remained in the Doyle family until 1998 (after Simon’s death).
The awards made to Joseph and Thomas, plus Joseph’s Memorial Plaque which had been issued to his mother Mary, were stolen during a burglary at the cottage. They were never recovered. Charley’s awards are in the possession of one of his nephews resident in the UK.
Barry also recalls other members of the family reared at Convent View, mostly by their nicknames. They included ‘The Joult, ‘Trumps’, and ‘Putz’ who died young. ‘Hoppy’ and ‘Gorilla’ were also among 17 born and reared in Convent view, as were ‘Cock’ and ‘Cuddy’, who were postmen. ‘Yorick’ was Barry’s grandfather, and he understands that his great-grandfather was known as ‘Gentleman Jim’.
Barry would love to have any more information about his antecedents, and especially any photographs or other memorabilia that might be in existence. He can be contacted at 022 23607.