In the Agny Military Cemetery, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 24/904 Corporal Richard Boyle, DCM, serving with the 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers  who died 28/02/1917.

The son of Patrick and Mary Winifred Boyle, of 5, Cross Row, Waterloo, Usworth, Co. Durham.

Derek Johnstone has provided the following:

Richard Boyle was born at South Shields in County Durham on 25 April 1891 and was baptised on 17th May 1891. His parents were Patrick Boyle, born in County Durham, and Mary Boyle (nee Moran) from Houghton le Spring. His father Patrick’s parents were both from Ireland.

The 1911 Census records Richard as being 19 years old and living with his parents at 14, Pump Row, Usworth, County Durham where he was employed as a putter in the coal mines. His father was also working in the coal mines. Richard’s siblings in the house at this time included Bartholomew 11, Catherine 8 and Agnes aged 6. The census document shows his parents Mary and Patrick had a total of nine children but sadly only six survived.

Military records confirm Richard was born at South Shields and enlisted at Newcastle upon Tyne. His name is included in Ireland’s Memorial Records. Records indicate Richard would have been single.

In the John Sheen book Tyneside Irish , Richard, a Corporal in C Company, was involved in a raid on 25/25 June 1916 and reported missing in 1917. This book also details the 24th Battalions sports day at Alnwick in March 1915, where a Private Boyle of C Company was 3rd in the Quarter Mile Foot Race and also 2nd in the Hop, Step and Leap event. It is not clear if this was this was Richard Doyle (who probably was still a Private) as there were two Boyles in C Company, the other being Private Thomas William Boyle from Gateshead.

Richard Boyle is remembered at Sunderland in S140.048 part 13, at Usworth on U9.01 and U9.08 and at Washington on W96.11 and W96.19