DOYLE, Joseph

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         4th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             12th Infantry Brigade
                                             78th Battalion - Winnipeg Grenadiers
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps. 
SERVICE NO:                   624443
RESIDENCE:                    Fort Saskatchewan – Alberta 
DATE OF BIRTH:            December 23, 1886
                                             Exeter – Townships of Hay, Stepehn and Usborne – County of Huron – Ontario.
DATE OF DEATH:           September 5, 1918               31 years     8 months
BROTHER:                        James Doyle – Ailsa Craig - Ontario
CEMETERY:                     Inverness (Tomnahurich) Cemetery – Inverness – 
                                             Invernesshire - Scotland
Occupation:                        Farmer                                  Religion:     Roman Catholic
Enlistment:                         Fort Saskatchewan – Alberta – January 15, 1916 into 151st Battalion
Enlistment Age:                 29 years          

Following his arrival in England, Private Dpyle transferred to the 11th Reserve Battalion based in Shorncliffe - Kent. He and then transferred to the 78th Battalion and went overseas into France on November 15, 1916. He immediately left to join his unit in the field and arrived there on November 22, 1916.
He was on Command to 12th Brigade Wiring Party from January 1, 1917 until January 25, 1917.  From February 11, 1917 until March 17, 1917 Private Doyle attended Physical Training courses and Battle Fitness courses.
April 9, 1917 the Battalion began their advance onto Vimy Ridge from Vincent Tunnel with a total strength of 802 men of all ranks. As they emerged from Vincent Tunnel the mine on their left went up and even before the artillery barrage came down on the enemy positions the Battalion was nearing the front lines.
The first and second waves had reached the objective and gone beyond but the third and fourth waves also reached the objective which was consolidated. Both flanks were open for a period of time. Parts of the third and fourth waves were in advance of Cyprus Trench. The enemy forces attempted a counter-attack numbering about 200 men along a 250 yard front about 08:30 am in front of Cyclist Trench and all ranks were forward except for a runner and signaller. The enemy was beaten back at this point.
At 9:10 am the Battalion position was precarious because the flanks were open and they were receiving enemy fire. At noon some of the enemy were seen advancing up Cyprus Trench from the Battalion rear and machine-gun fire drove them off. The left flank was still exposed and the enemy was massing but the artillery came down on them and they retreated. As the day progressed the enemy artillery began to find the range.
It was during this day of battle where Private Doyle received wounds to his arm. He was invalided back to England. His wound entered and exited his arm just below the shoulder. He is declared fit for duty even with a weak arm, an enlarged heart and an aortic systolic murmur. This was May 26, 1917.
He is Taken on Strength by the Canadian Forestry Corps in Sunningdale, then moved to Southampton and then to Inverness, Scotland on November 21, 1917. Then on July 17, 1918 he was admitted to the Military Hospital in Inverness with a hemorrhage of the lungs and on September 4, 1918 he is said to be dangerously ill. One day later he is reported to be dangerously ill and it is on this day when Private Doyle dies.
The official cause of his death is stated as pneumonia and meningitis.