Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
ff
144825   Private Louis Boyle
Save as PDF
Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 29/05/2017
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 24th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Canadian Army)
Date Of Birth: 27/09/1892
Died: 17/09/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age: 23
Summary      
Louis Boyle was the son of Joseph and Annie Boyle. He was born in Cookstown on 27th September 1892. He was of twelve children. The family lived in Cookstown. Like his father, Louis was a painter. Louis Boyle emigrated to Canada. Louis Boyle enlisted in the Canadian Infantry in Ottawa on 18th August 1915. Private Louis Boyle was serving with the 24th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry when he was killed in action in France on 17th September 1916.
Further Information
Louis Boyle was the son of Joseph and Annie Boyle. Joseph Boyle married Ann McIlwainey (various spellings) on 5th August 1883 in the district of Cookstown.
Louis Boyle was born in Cookstown on 27th September 1892. He was of twelve children.
Known family: Joseph Boyle, Annie Boyle, Henry Joseph Boyle (born 13th April 1884), Mary Kate Boyle (born 13th July 1885), Annie Boyle (born 11th March 1887, died 11th August 1888), Agnes Anne Boyle (born 2nd November 1888, died 21st January 1889), Patrick James Boyle (born 10th November 1890), Louis Boyle (born 27th September 1892), Peter Alphonsus Boyle (born 14th November 1894, died 23rd April 1909, age 14), Sarah Elizabeth Boyle (born 16th October 1895), Margaret Josephine Boyle (born 13th December 1896), Eleanor Frances Boyle (born 5th May 1898), Thomas John Boyle (born 9th September 1900), Norah Gertrude Boyle (born 20th March 1903).
The 1901 census lists Louis as age 8, living with the family at house 13 in Union Street, Cookstown. His father was a painter.
Union Street, Cookstown
The 1911 census lists Louis as age 18, living with the family at house 13 in Union Street, Cookstown. Like his father, Louis was also a painter.
Louis Boyle emigrated to Canada.
Prior to enlisting, Louis worked as a painter.
Louis Boyle enlisted in the Canadian Infantry in Ottawa on 18th August 1915. He named his father, Joseph Boyle, who was still living in Cookstown, as his next-of-kin.
Canadian Attestion Papers - Louis Boyle 1/2
Canadian Attestion Papers - Louis Boyle 2/2
On 2nd November 1915, Private Boyle was taken on strength to Shorncliffe, near Cheriton in Kent, close to the south coast of England.
On 28th November, Louis Boyle was admitted to Moore Barracks, Canadian Hospital, suffering from alcoholism and shock. He was released a few days later.
On 6th May 1916, he was transferred to the 34th Battalion in France.
On the 9th June, he arrived to the front.
On 28th June and 16th August, he was disciplined for drunkenness.
Louis’s brother, Private Joseph Boyle, was serving with the 8th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on Wednesday 6th September 1916.
Private Louis Boyle was serving with the 24th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry when he was killed in action in France on 17th September 1916, just 10 days after his brother.
He was initially reported wounded on 20th September, but this officially changed to being missing on 15th December 1916.
The Canadian Circumstances of Death Register records that Private Boyle was reported wounded and missing, but for official purposes, he was presumed to have died on or since 17th September 1916. On the night of his death, his unit was in the vicinity of Courcelette and Bapaume Road.
It was not until 12th May 1917 that he was presumed dead.
Private Louis Boyle has no known grave and is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial.
Both Private Louis Boyle and his brother Joseph are also commemorated on Cookstown Cenotaph.
Read more
Relevant Cookstown Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Union Street, Cookstown Cookstown Central Census listing in Union Street 54.646637 -6.742010
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Boyle family 1901 census lists Louis as age 8, living with the family at house 13 in Union Street, Cookstown
2 1911 Census lists Boyle family 1911 census lists Louie as age 18, living with the family at house 78 in Chapel Street, Cookstown
3 Canadian Great War Project Details of Private Louis Boyle
4 Canadian Virtual War Memorial Details of Private Louis Boyle
5 Circumstances of Death Registers Details of Private Louis Boyle's death
6 Louis Boyle Attestation Papers Canadian Military documents (35 no.)
7 Private Joseph Boyle Brother of Private Louis Boyle
Cookstown District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2010-2023