Fallen Wishaw soldier Private Dennis Doyle finally honoured

Feb 24 2010 by Robert Mitchell, Wishaw Press

ALMOST a century after he was killed by a German sniper in the Great War, the final resting place of a Wishaw soldier has been found – which means at last his family can pay their respects.

For all those years Private Dennis Doyle’s name was recorded on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing in France because his body’s whereabouts had never been unknown.

Incredibly though, the mystery has finally been solved thanks to an amateur historian from Craigneuk and a report that he uncovered in the archives of the Wishaw Press.

Joe O’Raw has been instrumental in discovering that Private Doyle had lain in an unmarked grave in Cambusnethan Cemetery, just yards from his own parents and other family members.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has now erected a headstone for the fallen soldier and on Friday three of his nephews visited it for the first time.

Patrick Doyle (77) said: “All these years we’ve been coming to the cemetery and we’ve passed his grave every time.

“If we had known he was buried there we would have paid our respects. We never knew he was here. We thought he was still in France.

“I come here often to visit my father and mother. I feel sad, all those years not knowing he was here – but we know now.”

Visiting the grave with brothers Richard (74) and Bernard (67), Patrick revealed that their own father had served in the Great War but like so many who returned home, he never spoke of his service.

Amateur historian Mr O’Raw discovered the truth about the last resting place of Private Doyle, who died on February 19, 1916, while he was researching old copies of the Wishaw Press.

As a member of the Craigneuk War Memorial Association he has helped raise the funds to pay for the names of Craigneuk’s fallen to be put on the cenotaph outside the local library.

And as reported in last week’s Wishaw Press the association has agreed that the men of Berryhill who paid the ultimate sacrifice should also be honoured on the war memorial – including Private Doyle.

Joe said: “It’s really thanks to the Wishaw Press that we know this. If they hadn’t reported on his funeral back then we would never know he was buried in Cambusnethan Cemetery.”

After contacting the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the unmarked grave of Private Doyle was tracked down through cemetery records and a headstone erected.

And last Friday at midday, 94 years after he was laid to rest, the soldier’s nephews were there to pay their respects.

Patrick added: “Our uncle was a much-loved man, and the family are thankful to Joe O’Raw and the War Graves Commission for providing this headstone, and giving us a focus to pay our respects to Dennis.”

Originally from Berryhill, Dennis Doyle signed up with the East Lancashire Regiment because he was working in Manchester at the time he chose to enlist. He had been in France for eight months when he was shot in early January, 1916, by a sniper as he was trying to throw a bomb.

While receiving treatment at a hospital in France, a nurse Sister K. Davidson wrote to his mother saying: “Dear Mrs Doyle, I am very sorry to let you know that your dear son, Pte Doyle, is very much worse today.

“He is complaining of great pain in head and neck and is paralysed all down his left side. Everything we can think of has been done for his comfort. I will write again tomorrow.”

Pte Doyle’s remaining nephews had believed he died in France from his wounds but through Mr O’Raw scouring old copies of the Wishaw Press, it emerged that the soldier was taken by hospital ship to England. However, by the time the ship reached port, he had died from his injuries.

His body was transported to Wishaw, and lain to rest in Cambusnethan Cemetery.

The report on Private Doyle’s funeral appears in the Wishaw Press on February 25, 1916. It reads: “Six weeks ago, while engaged in bomb-throwing, he was shot through the head by a sniper. Last weekend he was brought across the Channel for treatment in England; but, ere the hospital ship had been docked he succumbed to his injuries.

“The body was brought to Wishaw and arrangements had been made for a military funeral, but unfortunately at the last minute a message was received from the garrison adjutant at Hamilton that a funeral party could not be furnished.”

Sadly, as well as missing the honour of a military funeral, the grave also went unmarked, leading to years without a visit from family.

Joe O’Raw said: “I am immensely grateful to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for erecting this headstone, and thus ensuring that a brave man is properly and fittingly remembered.”

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is responsible for marking and maintaining graves of those members of the Commonwealth forces who died in two world wars. It also builds and maintains memorials to the dead whose last resting places remain unknown, and for providing records and registers of 1.7million burials and commemorations which take place in countries throughout the world.