William Kirby and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
Matthew was born 1898 the son of Dennis Coyle and Isabella Maddison (nee Raw) who married in the Easington area in 1884. The couple had 10 children together but sadly 4 died.
In 1901 the family were living at 27 Hall Street Seaham. Father Dennis was working as a coal hewer below ground and also had the position of deputy overman. Son, James, aged 15 years also worked at the mine as a coal miner/driver below ground. Dennis aged 14 worked as James did. Other children were Mary Isabel, John Madison, Maria and a domestic servant.
By 1911 another daughter, Minnie, was an addition to the family being born in 1904.
Matthew was a member of the Salvation Army at Seaham.
He enlisted at Sunderland aged 16 and joined the Coldstream Guards.
He was posted to France March 17th 1915 but died of wounds only a few months later on New Year’s Eve 1915.
The inscription on his headstone reads: Safe in the arms of Jesus
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal, 1915 Star
Matthew Coyle is remembered at Seaham on S117.04, S117.06 and S117.19
