Chester-le-Street Chronicle 1916
Chester-le-Street Chronicle 21/05/1916
Evening Chronicle 1916
CLS Chronicle 17/03/1916
Martin was born on the 22nd July 1891 at 30 John Street, Kimblesworth, son of Thomas and Bridget Elizabeth (nee Connolly/Conelly.) Martin was the youngest son of seven surviving children, and was employed by the Co-operative Society as a cartman, delivering milk in 1911.
He enlisted in the 1/8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, at Durham. The family were then living at North Road, Birtley, and later moved to Shincliffe House, Birtley.Martin was wounded in 1915 and wrote home to tell his parents he was in hospital 21st May 1915.
A letter written by Lance-Corporal James Armstrong to the parents of Fred Alderson also mentions the death of Pte. Martin Coyle, less than a year later.
He was killed on the 26th February 1916, age 24.
Note he was killed on the same day as Pte F Alderson in the same shelling incident.
There was a letter written by Martin Coyle after he was wounded which reads:-I have been wounded but not much worse. A lot of our fellows have gone down. We got into a trap on Sunday April 25th. The Germans shelled us from 5am till 9pm., when I came away. I was taken from the trenches to carry the wounded to a barn, and it was there that a sniper got me behind the ear. The same bullet smashed the face of the man behind me. But I am glad to say I brought down some of the Huns before that. It is worse than Hell out here. You will have read about Hill 60. I think it is hell sixty times over. The 8th Battalion got badly cut up. I am in No 8 General Hospital at Rouen. It is a grand place to be in, I think it must have been a convent before the war. There are pictures of Our Blessed Lady all over the places. I think the 8th will finish it, and that is the Germans last stand.
Source:- Chester-le-Street Chronicle 10/03/1916.
Sad News.
Mr P. W Whalen, Swinburne Place, Birtley, has just received the following letter from his son.
Pte. J. Whalen, 8th D.L.I. Fear Father and Mother, Just a few lines to let you know I am still all right. I am sorry to tell you that Martin Coyle was killed in action on Feb. 26th. He died a hero. I got him out of the trench and helped to bury him. All the boys out here are sorry he has gone as he was the life and soul of our company. You can break the news gently to his mother, and tell her we all send our sympathy. I am in a tight corner just now, but hope to pull through all right.
The parents of Pte. Coyle live at Durham Road, Birtley. He was wounded when the 1/8th D.L.I. first went to France.
Source: Jean Atkinson
Further research: James Pasby
Martin Coyle is remembered at Birtley on B127.01, B127.02, B127.09, B127.13 and possibly at Gateshead on G39.082
Note: The plaque in the Drill Hall B127.13 now at Chester-le-Street shows N. Coyle which is an error, and should read M Coyle.
