Thomas DOYLE

Regimental number57
ReligionMethodist
OccupationRailway employee
AddressGlen Innes, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation24
Next of kinFather, Thomas Doyle, Macquarie Street, Glen Innes, New South Wales
Enlistment date23 January 1916
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name34th Battalion, A Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/51/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 2 May 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll20th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal


Work at Hanebeke Wood on 20 September 1917.
Recommendation date: 25 September 1917

FateKilled in Action 7 April 1918
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsAustralian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France

Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy.

The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra.

On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours.

After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
97
Medals

Military Medal

'At HANEBEKE WOOD on 20th September 197 although but a youth, this soldier showed a great example of enterprise and courage. He encouraged those round him by his spirit and behaviour and when they hung back before a machine gun behind a block house, he roused them to follow him, and take the gun. he rushed forward on this and other occasions when temporary checks were likely to occur and helped to assure the success of the attack by his magnificent dash and coolness under heavy fire.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31
Date: 7 March 1918

Other details

War service: Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal