Muggleswick churchyard

Tribute Medal

Tribute Medal Inscription

Newbrough Churchyard

107263 Driver
J.T. Boyle
Royal Horse and
Royal Field Artillery
2nd September 1916 Age 21

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Joseph Thomas Boyle was the eldest of 3 known children, 2 sons and a daughter. His father John Wilson Boyle born 1859 at Greystoke, Cumberland, having moved with his widowed mother and siblings to Newbrough Lodge Cottage where he was employed as a gardener, met and married Alice Elliott Turnbull born February 6th 1871 in the village Falstone, near Hexham, Northumberland, April 21st 1894 in the district of Newbrough. Joseph Thomas was born there the following year, his brother John, December 28th 1896 and sister Florence, April 16th 1901 at Coatham Mundeville, Darlington, County Durham. Living at Coatham village John supported his family employed as a gardener/domestic, after his death October 17th 1907 aged only 48 years, Alice remarried in late1908 to widower Matthew Robson who had lost his wife Hannah (nee Hudspeth) in 1902 and had 5 children of his own. He and Alice had a daughter, named Alice after her mother, in 1911, while they were living at Muggleswick near Consett, County Durham. Matthew was the owner of his own farm, assisted by his son Lionel (18) and daughter Emma (16) a dairy maid and step-daughter Florence (10). His younger children John Thomas (13), Roger (11) along with step-son John Boyle (14) attended school. Joseph Thomas at the age of 16 had chosen to work as a farm servant for the widow Sarah Fisher at Redwell Hall Farm, Shotley Bridge, County Durham.

Alice Elliott Robson-Boyle nee Turnbull died during the 2nd quarter of 1914. When war was declared with Germany, August 4th 1914 her son Joseph Thomas Boyle was 19 years of age, however, he did not enlist until September 11th 1915 at Consett. He reported to the barracks at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, where he was assigned as Driver 107263 37th Reserve Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery. Having been sent to Norwich for training, he reported as sick, November 24th 1915. Driver Boyle was complaining of a pain in the left axllia (underarm) and diagnosed as suffering from pleurisy was admitted to the Military Hospital at Norwich. He had a cough which had lasted for the last 3 weeks and upon examination was attributed to tuberculosis, considered to have been caused by ordinary military service. Driver Boyle was permanently discharged from the station at Norwich, February 5th 1916 as not only unfit for military service but also home service and light duties.

Driver 107263 Joseph Thomas Boyle R.H.A. & R.F.A., aged 21 years and single, died as a consequence of his illness, September 2nd 1916 and was interred in the north-west part of St. Mary’s churchyard, Muggleswick. His step-father Matthew Robson received all monies due to him, however, it was his sister Florence who commissioned at a cost of 4 shillings 1 pence an additional inscription to be added to his headstone, it reads, “Peace Be Thy Rest.”

Although his brother John would also have been eligible for war service no record has been found. John Boyle married February 2nd 1935 in the district of Lanchester to Olive Hayton with whom he had 3 children, John Edward, Joseph Allen and Jane Alice. He died aged 76 years, June 6th 1973. Florence Boyle never married, she died January 14th 1991 aged 89 years whilst living at Valley View, Carterway Heads, Consett.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

In St. Peter’s Churchyard, Newbrough, Northumberland, is a family headstone which reads:-

JOSEPH GRIERSON BOYLE
Who Died at Newbrough
Oct 26th 1886 Aged 60 Years
ALSO SARAH
Wife of the Above
Born October 1st 1823
Died May 21st 1917
Also of JOHN their Son
Who Died October 17th 1907
Aged 48 Years
Also of MARY their
Daughter Who Died
July 12th 1923
Aged 66 Years

Joseph Thomas Boyle is remembered at Muggleswick on M48.02 and M48.03

The CWGC entry for Driver Boyle